WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 38th year No.13015 Thursday JANUARY 4, 2018 Dey 14, 1396 Rabi’ Al thani 16, 1439

‘U.S. will be forced Zarif: Iran relies The U.S. weightlifting teams 3rd Versus Visual Arts to apologize to on own people waiting for visa to participate Exhibition to open in Iranian nation’2 for security 2 in Iran’s Fajr Cup 15 Tehran on Friday 16

Iran likens Haley’s sympathy for protestors to ‘crocodile tears’ POLITICS TEHRAN – Iran’s UN marks have been made to cover up the deskmission has released a U.S. and its allies’ defeated policies in the statement likening U.S. Ambassador to the region and to revenge from the brave and Rally to UN Nikki Haley’s expression of sympathy for noble Iranian people,” the statement said. protestors in Iran to “disgusting crocodile tears”. Haley praised Iranian protesters Tuesday “The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly and said that the U.S. is seeking emergen- condemns the U.S. ambassador and the cy meetings with the Security Council in other U.S. officials’ meddlesome comments New York and the Human Rights Council on supporting violence and riot. Such re- in Geneva regarding Iran. 2 condemn riots See page 2 ‘Virtual tour operators’ to get off the ground TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran’s form at tourismcalendar.ir,” Mehr quoted deskCultural Heritage, CHHTO Director Ali Asghar Mounesan Handicrafts and Tourism Organization as saying on Monday. has unveiled a campaign to enroll eligible The business entails persuading for- students and graduates in all fields of study eigners to visit the country. as ‘virtual tour operators’. Qualified applicants will receive nec- “Alumni and college students from all essary training from CHHTO experts re- fields of study can apply for the tourism garding to travel marketing, Mounesan initiative as virtual tour operators form said, adding, they will be paid a bonus next Saturday (Jan. 6), by filling out a proportional to attracting tourists. 10 Rouhani urges French action on MKO in call with Macron POLITICS TEHRAN – In phone ing rising prices, unemployment and deskconversation with his corruption.

Mehdi Pedramkoo French counterpart Emmanuel Ma- MKO ringleader Maryam Rajavi issued cron late on Tuesday, President Hassan a statement on December 30 calling for Rouhani called on Paris to take action violent actions. against Mujahedin-e Khalq Organiza- “We expect the French government to tion (MKO), which has been fomenting fulfill its legal duty in line with fighting violence in Iran since people in some terrorism and violence regarding this Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ cities poured into the streets protest- terrorist group,” he noted. 2 ARTICLE E-government promotes empowerment and inclusion in society Norway suspends By Yuram Abdullah Weiler By Maryam Qarehgozlou ate savings on data collection and transmission, increase the transparency of decision-making arms exports to UAE Analyst and journalist Electronic government (or e-government) provision of information and communication processes by making information accessible – over Yemen War is the application of information and com- with customers. Significant future efficiencies publishing government debates and minutes, munication technology (ICT) to government are likely through greater sharing of data within budgets and expenditure statements, outcomes Norway has suspended arms exports to the functions and procedures with the purpose and between governments. and rationales for key decisions, etc. United Arab Emirates (UAE) over concerns Protests in Iran: of increasing efficiency, transparency and Moreover, e-government improves services to Where does Iran stand worldwide? that the weapons could be used in the citizen participation. the public, contributes to economic policy objec- As per the United Nations 2016 E-Govern- deadly House of Saud regime-led military Co-opting the Basically, implementation of e-government tive by reducing corruption, increasing openness ment Development Index, out of 193 countries campaign against Yemen, in which Abu would save money and time. Most significantly and trust in government, and can be a major worldwide Iran ranks 106 in putting in place Dhabi has played an active role. people’s expression it could empower governments as well as citi- contributor to reform by improving transparency, e-government initiatives and information and Under the existing circumstances, zens by increased inclusion and also participa- facilitating information-sharing and highlighting communication technologies applications for the permits for arms export to the UAE have of religious tion as they can benefit from better access to internal inconsistencies. people to further enhance public sector efficiencies been temporarily revoked and no new information and services, and open up more Building trust between governments and cit- and streamline governance systems to support licenses will be issued, the Norwegian democracy opportunities for their voices to be heard by izens is fundamental to good governance. ICT sustainable development. Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. decision makers. can help build trust by enabling citizen engage- On a scale of zero to one the United Kingdom So far, there has been no evidence about “The most important instance of freedom According to Organization for Econom- ment in the policy process, promoting open and tops the list with an index of 0.9193 followed by the use of Norwegian-manufactured weap- is to be able to choose one’s own destiny.” ic Co-operation and Development (OECD), accountable government and helping to prevent Australia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Finland, ons in the war on Yemen, but the UAE’s —Leader of the Islamic Revolution e-government helps improve efficiency in mass corruption. Sweden, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark involvement in the military campaign Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei processing tasks and public administration op- And last but not least e-government enhances and France. With an index of 0.4649 Iran stands could involve that risk, the ministry noted. Once again, we have been inundated erations. Internet-based applications can gener- transparency and accountability as ICT helps to somewhere in the middle of the chart. 12 According to Statistics Norway data, Nor- with a constricted view of events currently wegian arms exports to the UAE rose from taking place in Iran, carefully crafted to $5 million in 2015 to $9.7 million in 2016. fit the dominant western narrative, which Iran to soon surpass Qatar in South Pars: official Abu Dhabi has served as the key ally always presents the Islamic Republic as a of the Saudi regime in the latter’s mili- nation teeming with citizens on the brink of By Ebrahim Fallahi “The two countries are recovering almost “Of the phase’s total 44 wells, 22 have been tary offensive against Yemen which was rising up against their oppressive leaders. BANDAR ABBAS — With phase 14 going fully equal amounts of gas from the field,” he added. completed and drilling operations of another launched in 2015 to restore the former That Iran is a religious democracy, in which operational, Iran’s gas production from South Phase 14 is expected to produce 56.6 million 11 wells will be done within two months,” Ma- Riyadh-allied government. Emirati Elite citizens are able to vote and otherwise Pars giant gas field (which Iran shares with Qatar cubic meters of sour gas and 75,000 billion barrels soudi said. Forces have been fighting on the ground engage in responsible and constructive in Persian Gulf) will surpass the Arab country, of gas condensate per day, one million tons of ‘The “most Iranian” platform of in Yemen since then. debate regarding their individual and operator of the South Pars Phase 14 of develop- liquefied gas and one million tons of ethane per South Pars field’ In June 2016, American news web- collective destinies, is completely lost ment, Hamid-Reza Masoudi, said. year, and 400 tons a day of sulfur. Masoudi called platform 14A, “the most Ira- site The Daily Beast published an in- in the western media. Meanwhile, the “The production from the field is around 500- The 2,530-ton platform 14A is projected nian platform” among the South Pars platforms vestigation bankrolled by the Bureau of script for the escalating unrest in Iran 570 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) on to be installed on its designated offshore constructed so far, saying, over 70 percent of Investigative Journalism NGO, which said appears to have been taken from a recent average and with the phase 14 going operational, spot on January 20-22, starting production the equipment applied for constructing plat- militants backed by the UAE had report- joint U.S.-Israeli secret memorandum of Iran’s output from the joint field will exceed that in phase 14. form 14A have been domestically manufactured edly kidnapped and tortured hundreds understanding. of Qatar, the official said in a press conference in According to the official, Phase 14 is progress- and just those equipment that manufacturing the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Tues- ing very smoothly and the project has currently them required some high technology have been of people in southern Yemen. Background The probe said the militants, who would day after loading the platform 14A of phase 14. witnessed near 77 percent of physical progress. imported. 4 Since the time of the victory of the fight under the banner of the Elite Forces, had Islamic Revolution in Iran of 1979, the separated the men away from their homes and United States has sought to topple the brought them to a secret prison compound in legitimate government of Iran, and to southern Yemen, where they were tortured. that end, Washington has imposed an Earlier in 2016, the United Nations had ever-expanding, draconian regimen of likewise reported an increase in forced economic sanctions upon Tehran in ad- disappearances in the country’s south. dition to supporting extremist groups, Local rights activists and the abductees’ such as the Mujahedin-e Khalq, for the families told the investigators that the situ- purpose of amplifying internal dissent Iranian cyclists ation at al-Riyyan Airport - used for incar- among the citizenry. Between 1979 and ceration - compared to that of the notorious 2015, over 30 U.S. presidential execu- U.S.-run prisons such as Guantanamo Bay tive orders and congressional legislative prepare in Cuba and Abu Ghraib in Iraq. acts placed an ever-tightening economic According to various reports, Abu straitjacket on the Iranian economy, all for Asian Dhabi holds notable sway in southern of which in principle should have been Yemen and looks to be trying to expand nullified upon the implementation of championships its leverage there by lending support to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action southern separatist groups. (JCPOA) otherwise known as the “Iran Yemeni sharpshooters kill nuclear deal” between Iran and the five Iranian cyclist are preparing for the 2018 four Saudi regime troopers in permanent U.N. Security Council members Asian Cycling Championships. plus Germany. The Iranian athletes are holding their retaliatory attacks However, even 30-plus unilateral acts camp in Ahvaz’s Shohadaye Khuzestan. Meantime, Yemeni army soldiers, of economic warfare against the Islamic The 38th Asian Track Championships backed by fighters from allied Popular Republic of Iran did not satisfy the re- Alireza Mohammadi will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Committees, have shot dead four Saudi vengeful plutocrats on the Potomac. In a from Feb. 16 to 20. regime troopers in the kingdom’s south- Iranian men’s and women’s teams will western border region of Jizan, in retalia- desperate attempt to bring Iran to its fiscal ISNA/ tion for Riyadh’s military campaign against knees, the Washington regime, 7 participate in the competitions. the crisis-hit country. 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS JANUARY 4, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS IRGC completes Israel, U.S. back Iran riots: quake relief mission in Kermanshah Turkish FM The Turkish foreign minister has said Is- But, the stability [of Iran] is also important POLITICS TEHRAN — The commander of the Is- rael and the U.S. are the only countries for its neighbors. It is significant for all of desklamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) supporting riots in Iran, Anadolu reported. us,” he said. says his forces have accomplished the mission to provide In remarks made during a meeting with “We wish for these conflicts in Iran to temporary housing for villagers in the western province of media representatives in capital Ankara come to an end and stability to be recovered Kermanshah that were left homeless by a massive earth- on Wednesday, Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke immediately.” quake in November. about certain foreign officials backing Ira- Cavusoglu said Iranian Foreign Minister Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Wednesday nian protests. Mohammad Javad Zarif had told him that that the IRGC had undertaken to construct 8,000 conex He drew attention to two figures openly the situation in Iran was not so bad. boxes after the earthquake, but managed to set up more than supporting the unrest in Iran. He recalled Zarif as saying that Tehran was 8,100 ones in the rural areas in less than 45 days. “One of them is Israeli Prime Minister taking a careful stance against these protesters More than 620 people died and some 10,000 others were Benjamin Netanyahu and the other is the but “there are some groups with weapons, wounded in the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in western parts U.S. President Donald Trump.” blades and Molotov bombs in their hands who of Kermanshah on November 12. The foreign minister emphasized that caused some civilians and security personnel countries criticizing Iran should be “sin- to be killed during random shootings.” cere” and refrain from “double standards.” Cavusoglu highlighted that Iran was Rioters are stooges Cavusoglu criticized the double stand- not against peaceful solutions and a di- of Iran’s enemies: ards of certain countries regarding Irani- alogue process. an protests and cited the example of how “They say Iran is not using the iron Velayati some countries gave their full support to fist of the state.” the military coup in Egypt. He also said any change in Iran should “Our wish is that this process comes come through elections. “So, if there were to POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Akbar Velayati, a top to an end immediately. We find Iranian Mevlut Cavusoglu says the U.S. brought the be a change in government, Iranian people deskforeign policy adviser to the Leader of President Hassan Rouhani’s statements could make it happen in the next elections.” the Islamic Revolution, on Tuesday denounced the rioters positive.” issue of protests to the international arena About the call of U.S. envoy to the UN setting fire to Iran’s flag in the recent unrest as the stooges The foreign minister said Turkey is always because “they are strongly opposed to the Nikki Haley on Wednesday for a UN Security of the enemies. against those kinds of external interventions, Iranian administration.” Council meeting on the protests, Cavusoglu Velayati emphasized that it was “sheer lunacy” to set adding that all countries except for Netan- said the U.S. brought this to the international fire to the Iranian flag or mosques, saying those who set yahu and Trump were being “cautious” in He termed the ongoing protests in neighboring country. arena because “they are strongly opposed fire to the flag are proxies for the reactionary regimes and the face of protests in Iran. Iran an “internal” matter of Turkey’s “This situation is internal affairs of Iran. to the Iranian administration.” the enemies of Iran. He further underlined that the Iranian people safeguard their national and religious identity and flush out the mer- Zarif: Iran relies on own people for security cenaries creating chaos in the country. POLITICS TEHRAN — In response to inflammatory protests in Iran. desktweets by U.S. President Donald Trump In his latest tweet on Monday, the U.S. president said, since protest rallies started in Iran last week, Iranian For- “The [Iranian] people have little food, big inflation and no ‘U.S. will be forced eign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that Iran’s human rights. The U.S. is watching!” security and stability depend on its own people. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi to apologize to “Iran’s security and stability depend on its own people, slammed on Tuesday the U.S. president for his rude com- Iranian nation’ who — unlike the peoples of Trumps regional “bffs”—have ments, saying he should address his own country’s problems the right to vote and to protest. These hard-earned rights instead of interfering in other countries. will be protected, and infiltrators will not be allowed to “Instead of wasting his time sending useless and insult- sabotage them through violence and destruction,” Zarif ing tweets regarding other countries, he would be better POLITICS TEHRAN — Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of desk tweeted on Tuesday. off seeing to the domestic issues of his own country such the Expediency Council, said on Wednesday Since Thursday, groups of protesters have held rallies as daily killings of dozens of people… and the existence of that U.S. authorities will be once again forced to apologize to in several cities across the country to voice their anger over millions of homeless and hungry people,” Qassemi stated. the great Iranian nation over their offensive remarks, “the rising prices, unemployment and corruption. The protests All Iranian officials with whatever political persuasions same way that Clinton had to apologize for the behavior of initially started peacefully but turned violent in some cases Zarif tells Trump that Iranians have insisted the people’s right to protest should be recog- his predecessors.” when hooligans joined the demonstrators. nized. However, they have said protest rallies are different Rezaee was responding to the U.S. government’s interven- Trump posted several tweets to express his support for have right to vote and protest from vandalism and violent actions. tions in Iran’s internal affairs, especially Trump’s anti-Iran tweets that supported riots across the country. Groups of protesters took to the streets in several cities in Iran to voice their dissatisfaction mostly over economic Iranians rally to condemn riots issues. Sporadic violence has erupted during the protests, POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian peo- Dozens of people have been killed since ious tools at their disposal, including money, damage public property. causing a number of casualties. deskple took to the streets in the violence erupted, according to state weapon, politics and security organizations, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif several cities on Wednesday to condemn media reports. in order to cause problem for the Islamic said “infiltrators” would not be allowed to the recent wave of deadly violence in some U.S. President Donald Trump took advan- establishment,” the Leader stated. destroy Iranian people’s rights through vi- Police chief warns cities, and to voice their full support for the tage of the unrest and took to twitter to level President Rouhani has said that based olence and destruction. of attempts to Islamic Republic system. accusations against Iran in numerous posts. on the rights enshrined in the constitution, “Iran’s security and stability depend on During the rallies, the demonstrators Authorities in Tehran have responded to people are free to criticize the government its own people, who — unlike the peoples of blame government shouted slogans against the United States Trump’s tweets, blasting the U.S. president or stage protests, emphasizing, however, Trumps regional “bffs”—have the right to and Israel, which voiced support for the rioters. for interfering in Iran’s internal affairs. that the protests should be peaceful and vote and to protest. These hard-earned rights for deaths They also chanted pro-government slogans Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Leader of the constructive. will be protected, and infiltrators will not be POLITICS TEHRAN — Police Chief Brigadier General during the mass rallies which were held in Islamic Revolution, said on Tuesday that the He said the nation would counter the allowed to sabotage them through violence deskHossein Ashtari on Wednesday warned different provinces including Ahvaz, Kerman- enemies have been using various tools to hurt small group that has used protests as an and destruction,” Zarif said in a message against enemies’ attempts to take advantage of the unrest in shah, Bushehr, Abadan, Gorgan and Qom. the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic. excuse to chant slogans in violation of law posted on his official Twitter account on the Iran, saying they are seeking to blame the government Other cities are also slated to hold similar “In the recent days’ events, the enemies of and people’s demands, insult the sanctities Tuesday night. for the deaths which had reached 21 on Tuesday. rallies on Thursday, while the people in the Iran allied with each other by employing var- and values of the Islamic Revolution, and IRGC Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari In recent days, Iran has witnessed rallies in some prov- capital, Tehran, will hold demonstrations said on Wednesday that the day marked the inces, where the primary demands of the people are better after the Friday prayers. IRGC Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari end of the new sedition, emphasizing that the living conditions, Ashtari was quoted by Tasnim as saying. A number of protests were held last week said on Wednesday that people’s rally enemies can no longer pose a threat to Iran. “However, some opportunists exploited this situation over some issues including high prices and Jafari said the plots orchestrated against with the support of the sworn enemies of the country, headed economic problems. However, the protests marked the end of the new sedition, the Islamic Republic were natural because by America, and caused citizens’ discontent by destroying spread across the country soon and turned emphasizing that the enemies can no the Iranian people have long been reject- public property and making acts of aggression against the violent, with rioters targeting police stations longer pose a threat to Iran. ing the U.S. as their boss and stand against lives and property of the people,” the police chief lamented. and religious sites. oppression. Iran detains killer Rouhani urges French action on MKO in call with Macron of father, son in Macron says the role of Quds Force in annihilating Daesh not deniable Dorud unrest 1 The MKO did numerous terrorist acts in Iran, and Russia - in July 2015. It took effect in January 2016. especially in the early years of the 1979 Islamic Revolu- The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Na- tion. It also sided with Saddam Hussein’s army in the war tions’ nuclear watchdog, has issued nine regular reports each POLITICS TEHRAN — The Intelligence Ministry against Iran in the 1980s. time confirming Iran’s adherence to the international deal. deskannounced on Tuesday evening that its MKO has been renamed as the so-called National Council Macron said that France will remain committed to the forces have arrested the killer of two citizens in Dorud, of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which its office is in Paris. nuclear deal and called it beneficial to the international Lorestan province. France hosts annual gathering of the MKO. peace and stability. On December 31, during protests in Dorud a group of ‘Tehran’s principled policy is to promote peace’ He attached great importance to continuation of consul- rioters stole a fire truck by using force. The arrested individual In his talks with the French leader, Rouhani also said tations to restore peace and stability to the region. had put the vehicle in neutral, causing it to go hurtling into Iran’s principled policy is based on promoting peace and The French leader also praised Iranian Quds Force for a sedan, killing a father and his son inside the car. boosting stability in the Middle East region. its role in annihilating Daesh. The individual, who was arrested in Tehran province, Iran gave advisory help to Iraq and Syria in their wars The top officials agreed to postpone French Foreign had a record in vandalism, sexual harassment, and robbery. against Daesh militants. Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s visit to Iran. “Our presence in Iraq and Syria was at the invitation of Erdogan says Turkey values Iranian stability, them to fight terrorism and today, it is obvious for all that praises Rouhani Dialogue best Iran’s efforts and help resulted in annihilation of Daesh in its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, known as A source in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s the region,” Rouhani remarked. the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. office said Erdogan discussed the week-long unrest in Iran way to overcome Rouhani said that the people of any country should “The JCPOA is an international agreement which during a telephone call with Rouhani. The Iranian president challenges, Lewis decide their own destiny. is beneficial to all and we should make efforts to keep told Erdogan he hoped the protests would be over “in a few He also highlighted the necessity of ending the the deal,” he said. days”, the source said. says of Iran protests Saudi blockade of the Yemeni people and sending However, Rouhani insisted, Iran will remain com- Erdogan said Rouhani had taken an “appropriate humanitarian aid to them. Commenting on bilateral mitted to the JCPOA as long as the deal is beneficial stance” by saying demonstrators should not violate the POLITICS TEHRAN — Gary Lewis, the UN res- relations, Rouhani expressed hope that Tehran-Paris for the country. law while exercising their right to peaceful protests, deskident coordinator in Iran, on Wednes- ties and cooperation would expand in 2018. The nuclear agreement was signed by Iran, the European the sources stated, adding that the Turkish president day reiterated President Rouhani’s comments on recent ‘Iran committed to nuclear deal’ Union, Germany and the five permanent members of the UN stressed the significance of “maintaining peace and protests, saying Iranian citizens must have the right to Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China stability in Iran. “ voice their concerns. Rouhani also said Iran has remained committed to “Concerning the current situation in #Iran, as President @HassanRouhani has himself said recently, citizens must have the right to express their concerns,” Lewis said on his Iran likens Haley’s sympathy for protestors to ‘crocodile tears’ Twitter account. 1 Kairat Umarov, the president of “shameful” record of the U.S. interfer- the recent commotion and will not let their ruption. The protests initially started “The best way for a country to meet and overcome legit- the UN Security Council, said in a press ences since the coup d’état against the historic achievements be ruined by violence,” peacefully but turned violent in some imate challenges is through peaceful means and dialogue,” conference on Tuesday that the 15-member democratically elected government of the statement added. cases when hooligans joined the dem- he added. body is not currently planning to hold an Mohammad Mosadeq in 1953. Since Thursday, groups of protesters onstrators. Since Thursday, groups of protesters have taken to the emergency meeting on Iran. “Iran’s security and stability depend on have held rallies in several cities across Since the start of the riots, U.S. President streets in several cities to voice their dissatisfaction mostly The statement by the Iran UN mis- the people and the Iranians will protect the the country to voice their anger over Donald Trump has posted several insulting over economic issues. sion noted that Iran will not forget the Islamic revolution’s achievements in spite of rising prices, unemployment and cor- tweets in supporting the protests. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 4, 2018 INTERNATIONAL Hamas: Trump threats to cut aid cheap Israel offers to pay African political blackmail migrants to leave, threatens jail

Israel said on Wednesday it would pay thousands of African Abbas: Knesset’s al-Quds vote, an end to peace process migrants to leave, threatening them with jail if they are caught after the end of March. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in By staff & agencies public remarks at a cabinet meeting on the payment program, The Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, has said a barrier Israel completed in 2013 along its border with described the recent threats by the United States President Egypt had effectively cut off a stream of “illegal infiltrators” from Donald Trump to cut off financial aid to the United Nations Africa after some 60,000 crossed the desert frontier. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) The vast majority came from Eritrea and Sudan and many and the Palestinian Authority as “cheap political blackmail.” said they fled war and persecution as well as economic hardship, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, in a statement re- but Israel treats them as economic migrants. leased on Wednesday, said the threats are indicative of the The plan launched this week offers African migrants a $3,500 “barbaric and immoral American manner in dealing with (2,581 pounds) payment from the Israeli government and a free the just Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian air ticket to return home or go to “third countries”, which rights people.” groups identified as Rwanda and Uganda. He further stressed the need for unity among various “We have expelled about 20,000 and now the mission is to Palestinian political factions, and formation of a united front get the rest out,” Netanyahu said. in the face of Trump’s positions on Palestine. An immigration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, Barhoum then called for stronger Arab, Islamic and said there are some 38,000 migrants living illegally in Israel, and international support for Palestinians’ rights, and stiffer some 1,420 are being held in two detention centers. opposition to the policies of Washington and Tel Aviv. “Beyond the end of March, those who leave voluntarily will In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Trump said that the receive a significantly smaller payment that will shrink even more U.S. pays “the Palestinians hundred of millions of dollars with time, and enforcement measures will begin,” the official a year” and yet gets “no appreciation or respect.” said, referring to incarceration. “But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, Some have lived for years in Israel and work in low-paying why should we make any of these massive future payments jobs that many Israelis shun. Israel has granted asylum to less to them?” he added. than one percent of those who have applied and has a years-long Palestinians’ rights are not for sale backlog of applicants. Rights groups have accused Israel of being Elsewhere, Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the executive slow to process African migrants’ asylum requests as a matter of committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, stated policy and denying legitimate claims to the status. on Wednesday that “Palestinians’ rights are not for sale. By Netanyahu has called the migrants’ presence a threat to Is- recognizing occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital, took part in a riot in Deir Nizam and soldiers spotted one void” the latest Israeli measures meant to consolidate the rael’s social fabric and Jewish character, and one government Donald Trump has not only violated international law, but with a gun before firing in his direction. regime’s occupation of the ancient city and annex more minister has referred to them as “a cancer”. has also singlehandedly destroyed the very foundations of An investigation has begun into the incident, the spokes- Palestinian territory. In his remarks, Netanyahu cited the large presence of African peace and condoned Israel’s illegal annexation of the city.” woman said. In a post on his official Twitter account on Tuesday, Jor- migrants in Tel Aviv’s poorer neighborhoods, where he said Ashrawi added, “We will not be blackmailed. President Abbas: Knesset’s al-Quds vote is an end to dan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi blasted the Israeli par- “veteran residents” - a reference to Israelis - no longer feel safe. Trump has sabotaged our search for peace, freedom and peace process liament (Knesset) for passing into law the so-called “United “So today, we are keeping our promise to restore calm, a justice. Now he dares to blame the Palestinians for the con- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that Jerusalem Bill” that makes it more difficult to cede parts of sense of personal security and law and order to the residents of sequences of his own irresponsible action!” Knesset’s passing of a law that requires two-thirds of its occupied al-Quds back to Palestinians. south Tel Aviv and those in many other neighborhoods,” he said. On December 6, Trump announced U.S. decision to rec- members to approve any ceding land in al-Quds is a “dec- He also denounced the ruling Israeli Likud Party’s recent (Source: Reuters) ognize al-Quds (Jerusalem) as Israel’s capital and relocate laration of war.” vote in favor of a resolution seeking the annexation of large the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the occupied city. “The Israeli Knesset’s vote on the united Jerusalem law parts of the occupied West Bank. The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy vis-à-vis the is equivalent to a declaration of war on the Palestinian peo- The Israeli parliament endorsed the al-Quds (Jerusa- city triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian ple and its political and religious identity,” said Nabil Abu lem) bill in a 64-52 vote on Tuesday, raising the number Bombing kills 14 in mosque territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Rudeinah, Abbas’ spokesman, on Tuesday. of required votes from 61 to 80 in the 120-seat legislature Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries. He added that the Tel Aviv regime has already begun before the regime can relinquish control over any portion in northeastern Nigeria On December 21, the United Nations General Assembly to impose its dictatorial rule on Palestinians living in the of the holy city to a “foreign party.” overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that calls on occupied East al-Quds. Over the weekend, the central committee of Prime Min- Fourteen people have been killed in an explosion at a mosque in the U.S. to withdraw its controversial recognition of al-Quds “This vote clearly indicates that the Israeli side has offi- ister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party also voted for a northeastern Nigeria near the border with Cameroon. (Jerusalem) as Israeli “capital.” cially declared the end of what is called the political process non-binding resolution, asking Israeli law to be applied to Vigilantes said an individual suspected of working for the Boko In an attempt to avert the resolution, Trump had warned and has begun imposing a policy of dictates,” he added. “the freed settled expanses of the West Bank,” referring to Haram Takfiri terrorist group blew himself up amid worshippers that “we’re watching,” threatening reprisals against countries Abbas also stressed that Israel was not capable of such the parts of the occupied land where the regime has built inside the mosque in the town of Gamboru in the state of Borno that backed the measure, which earlier faced a U.S. veto at actions without the full support of the U.S. government. settlements in defiance of international law since 1967. at about 5:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) shortly before dawn the UN Security Council. Israel, however, rejected the world Israeli legislators on Tuesday approved the amendment The measure also called for “unimpeded construction” prayers. “Fourteen bodies have been pulled out of the rubble,” body’s resolution while thanking Trump for his decision to to an existing legislation, raising the number of required there. Additionally on Tuesday, Jordanian government said Umar Kachalla, a vigilante, adding that the mosque had move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to al-Quds. votes from 61 to 80 in the 120-seat parliament (Knesset) spokesman Muhammad al-Momani stressed that East al- been completely destroyed. Al-Quds (Jerusalem) remains at the core of the Israeli-Pal- before the regime can relinquish control over any portion Quds is part of the “occupied territories” and its status must “Only the muezzin has survived and we believe more bodies estinian conflict, with Palestinians hoping that the eastern of the holy city to a “foreign party.” be decided upon through negotiations between Israelis and are buried under the debris,” said Kachalla. “The death toll may part of the city would eventually serve as the capital of a Knesset vote, outcome of Trump’s decision Palestinians in accordance with international law. likely rise.” future independent Palestinian state. The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organi- “We are warning Israel of the dangers of its recent actions, Another vigilante, Shehu Mada, reported that a patrol by his Palestinian shot dead in West Bank zation (PLO), Saeb Erekat, also said the Israeli parliament’s including the passing of the above-mentioned bill and the peers had detected four suspected bombers in the vicinity of Elsewhere, a Palestinian teenager was shot dead in vote was the outcome of Trump’s decision and part of new vote by Likud Party members regarding imposing Israeli Gamboru and arrested one of them after a chase an hour before clashes with the Israeli army on Wednesday near the city US-Israeli collaboration to dictate a solution and destroy sovereignty on West Bank settlements,” he said. the attack was carried out. “Two of them turned back and fled of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian the so-called two-state principle. Momani also noted that such Israeli moves would under- while the fourth disappeared into the darkness and we believe health ministry said. He added that Palestinians will go to the UN Security mine the so-called two-state solution to the decades-long it was he who attacked the mosque,” Mada added. Musab Firas al-Tamimi, 17, was shot in the village of Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Nigeria has been suffering from deadly attacks claimed by Deir Nizam north of Ramallah, it said. International Criminal Court (ICC) to counter all these plots. Israel lays claim to the whole al-Quds (Jerusalem), but Boko Haram in northeastern regions since 2009. At least 20,000 His death took the number of Palestinians killed to 14 in Jordan slams Israel’s ‘illegal’ Quds move amid the international community views the ancient city’s eastern people have so far lost their lives in the attacks and more than unrest since the U.S. recognized al-Quds as Israel’s capital land grab sector as occupied land and Palestinians consider it as the 2.7 million others have been displaced. last month. The developments follow as Jordan, the custodian of capital of their future state. The United Nations has already warned that areas affected An Israeli army spokeswoman said dozens of Palestinians Muslim holy sites in al-Quds, has condemned as “null and (Source: agencies) by Boko Haram face a humanitarian crisis. (Source: Press TV) Syria gears up for anti-terror offensive east of Damascus The Syrian army, backed by the Russian air Wednesday that a Russian Mi-24 helicopter force, is preparing for a major operation as carrying three personnel had crashed over Former Taliban hostage part of a new push to rid the Takfiri terror- Hama Province on December 31. ists of their last stronghold on the eastern The copter was making a hard landing Joshua Boyle charged with outskirts of the capital, Damascus. 15 kilometers from the Hama airfield in The push began on Tuesday, zooming in the province’s capital of the same name sexual assault on Harasta District in Eastern Ghouta, where when it crashed, the ministry said. It cited terrorists with the Ahrar al-Sham (Free Men a technical fault as the cause of the crash, of the Levant) outfit have gone on rampage dismissing some reports that the aircraft over the past days. had been fired at. Reuters reported on Wednesday that The technician injured in the crash was Syrian forces are set to conduct a swoop transported to Khmeimim Airbase. The base, there on the Military Vehicles Administra- one of the two run on a permanent basis by tion Army base, which has been besieged Russia in Syria, is located in the province of by the terrorists. Latakia, which neighbors Hama. The report quoted locals and witnesses as Russia has been carrying out an aerial saying that the army is amassing elite forces bombardment campaign against extremist in preparation for the offensive against the militants in Syria at Damascus’ request since militant siege. September 2015. Along with Iranian advisory At least 200 Syrian troops are believed military support, the Russian campaign has to be trapped within the premises. helped eliminate ISIL terrorists and retake A Canadian man who was kidnapped while backpacking with his Damascus-based Sama TV said combined Separately, reports said that the United operations despite the collapse of ISIL both territory they had overrun in Syria. wife in Afghanistan has been arrested and faces at least a dozen Syrian military operations and Russian aerial States-led coalition, which has been purport- in Syria and neighboring Iraq. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, charges including sexual assault. backup had killed more than 200 gunmen edly fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Russia confirms copter crash in some 60,000 militants have been killed in Joshua Boyle, his wife Caitlan Coleman and their three children— in the area on Tuesday. the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) since 2014, killed Syria, cites technical fault the Russian campaign. all born in captivity—were rescued in Oct. 2017 in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, it was reported that a Syr- 12 Syrian civilians, including a number of Meantime, Russia has confirmed that a In mid-December last year, Russian The alleged offenses occurred between Oct. 14 and Dec. 30, ian army unit had liberated six villages children, in the town of al-Sousah in the Russian military helicopter earlier crashed President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian court documents show, The Toronto Star reported. and towns from Takfiri terrorists in the eastern suburbs of the northeastern city of in northwestern Syria, killing two pilots and troops to begin withdrawing from Syria as Boyle faces charges of assault, sexual assault, unlawful con- northern countryside of the northwestern Dayr al-Zawr. injuring a technician. ISIL was routed in the country. finement, uttering death threats, causing someone to “take a city of Hama. The U.S.-led coalition continues its aerial Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on (Source: agencies) noxious thing, namely Trazodone,” and misleading police, ac- cording to the report. The family was rescued last year after being in captivity for five years. Boyle’s wife sent a statement to The Toronto Star. Study: One in ten young adults experience homelessness “I can’t speak about the specific charges, but I can say that One in 10 young American adults experienced some form of across the country to gauge how many of them had been increased for the first time since 2010, driven by a surge in ultimately it is the strain and trauma he was forced to endure for homelessness in the previous year, with nearly 3.5 million homeless during that period. the number of people living on the streets in Los Angeles, so many years and the effects that that had on his mental state people aged 18 to 25 sleeping in shelters and cars, according Minorities at greater risk California, and other West Coast cities, according to a recent that is most culpable for this.” to a new national survey. The survey identified college students, graduates and em- government study. “Obviously, he is responsible for his own actions,” she wrote, The study by Chapin Hall, a youth policy center at the ployed young people who struggled to find a permanent place Nearly 554,000 people were homeless across America “but it is with compassion and forgiveness that I say I hope help University of Chicago, also found that at least one in 30 to stay. It also found that homelessness was no less prevalent during a one-night count in January of this year, a nearly 1 and healing can be found for him. As to the rest of us, myself and teenagers aged 13-17 experienced homelessness over the in rural areas than in urban locations, and that certain groups, percent increase from 2016, the United States Department the children, we are healthy and holding up as well as we can.” same period. including African-Americans, Hispanics, as well as those who of Housing and Urban Development said in a report released A hearing on the case is scheduled for Wednesday in Ottawa. The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, do not complete high school, are at greater risk. last month. A lawyer for Boyle said his client will not attend in person. polled more than 26,000 young people and their families The number of homeless people in the United States has (Source: Press TV) (Source: New York Daily News) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY JANUARY 4, 2018

STOCK MARKET Iran soon surpass TEDPIX 95929.5 IFX 1055.35 Qatar in recovering Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir gas from South CURRENCIES USD 43,500 rials Pars: gas official EUR 55,200 rials GBP 60,500 rials 1 He also put the average application including, Industrial Development and of domestically manufactured equipment in Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO), AED 12,200 rials development of South Pars at 60 percent. Iranian Offshore Engineering and According to the operator, the cost of Construction Company, Iran National Source: Mehrnews.com constructing this platform considering Drilling Company, Iran Offshore Shipbuilding additional equipment needed for operation and Offshore Industries Complex (ISOICO) is estimated around $160 million. and Mapna Group Company is in charge The 35-by-35-meters platform has of implementing South Pars’ phase 14 COMMODITIES a height of 18 meters and 680 tons of development project. Brent $67.01/b equipment, including 71 kilometers of electric The huge South Pars gas field, that Iran cables, 15,000 pieces of instrumentation shares with Qatar in the Persian Gulf, covers remaining 6,000 square kilometers, called significant amount of natural gas, accounting WTI $60.87/b equipment as well as 34,000 pieces of welding an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 North Dome, are situated in Qatar’s territorial for about eight percent of the world’s reserves, OPEC Basket $64.47/b poles are mounted on it. square kilometers of which, called South waters. and approximately 18 billion barrels of A consortium of Iranian companies Pars, are in Iran’s territorial waters. The The field is estimated to contain a condensate. Gold $1,315.75 /oz Silver $17.16/oz Iran’s metropolises to start generating IRAN NUTEX 2018 Platinium $952.00/oz electricity from wastewater running in Tehran Sources: Oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com ENERGY TEHRAN – Like the operating at a wastewater treatment plant ECONOMY TEHRAN — The seeks increase in Iran’s production of nuts deskCapital Tehran, Iran in southern Tehran. desk5th edition of and dried fruits as well as their exports plans to construct biogas power plants in “Once fully operational, the power International Exhibition on Nuts, to the world. Tens of Iranian production French company inks MOU other big cities to generate electricity from plant will generate about 80 gigawatts Dried Fruit & related industries (IRAN and processing units are showcasing their wastewater, IRNA reported on Wednesday (GW) of electricity and 270 terajoules NUTEX 2018) was inaugurated at Tehran latest products and modern machineries in Iran for co-op on flare citing an official at Iran’s Water and (TJ) of thermal energy annually, which is Permanent International Fairgrounds in this exhibition. Wastewater Company. enough to supply a town with over 100,000 on Wednesday, IRIB news reported. As previously reported, 110 gas recovery According to the Director General of the residents,” he said. The four-day event, which is held with Iranian companies are taking part in Utilization Control Office at Iran’s Water and “Tehran’s biogas power plant is currently cooperation of Iran Trade Promotion IRAN NUTEX 2017, while business ENERGY TEHRAN — France’s energy company desk Wastewater Company, Bahman Vakili, one generating 60 GW of electricity and 200 TJ Organization (TPO) and some other delegations from 28 countries will Entrepose Group signed a trilateral of the world’s biggest biogas power plants is of thermal energy, annually,” Vakili added. Iranian private and state-run entities, visit the event. memorandum of understanding (MOU) with two Iranian parties for cooperation on recovery and utilization of flare gas from Iran’s South Pars gas field phases 14, 17 and 18 of development. Germany’s jobless rate drops to record low as economy booms Germany’s unemployment rate fell to a and the euro area jumping to records in union, appear to be struggling to make for the European Central Bank to set record low as the number of people out December. At the same time, business progress after an initial deadline to reach an end-date for its crisis-era stimulus of work slid for a sixth month, reflecting optimism has slipped from an all-time high an agreement passed on Dec. 31. IG Metall measures, said last month that he’s a boom in Europe’s largest economy that as corporate executives fret over production has asked for a 6 percent increase in wages confident the picture in Germany will could push up wages and inflation. constraints such as finding skilled workers and the option to work just 28 hours a soon change. The jobless rate was 5.5 percent in that may start to lift their costs. week. “We expect that the increased capacity December, and the previous month’s rate “People are not afraid to spend money “The collective bargaining talks are utilization and regionally appearing was revised down to the same level, the because unemployment is so low and gridlocked,” the union said Tuesday bottlenecks in some labor markets will Federal Labor Agency in Nuremberg said that boosts domestic demand,” said in a statement on its website. It is now lead to somewhat higher wage pressure,” on Wednesday. The number of unemployed Jens Kramer, an economist at NordLB considering so-called warning strikes, he told reporters on Dec. 18. Nascent plunged by 29,000 last month, more than in Hanover. “It’s something of a miracle temporary walkouts that usually have pressures elsewhere in the bloc mean twice as much as the median estimate that wage growth was so moderate after little impact on production. that the ECB is “therefore on track toward in a Bloomberg survey of economists. we effectively had full employment for two ECB goal our definition of price stability.” According to a report by IRDO, the MOU was signed between Germany has been enjoying a strong years in Germany. We should eventually Weak pay growth so far means the That reasoning was bolstered earlier on Entrepose Group, Industrial Projects Management Company economic run supported by domestic see pressure for higher wages this year.” nation is facing the same struggle as Wednesday as data showed Spanish jobless of Iran (IPMI) and Industrial Development and Renovation spending and solid global trade, with In a sign of that pressure, pay talks the rest of the euro area in generating claims slid by 61,500 last month, the Organization (IDRO) in Tehran. Purchasing Managers’ Indexes on Tuesday between employers and IG Metall, sustained inflation. Bundesbank President biggest decline since June and snapping showing factory activity for the country Germany’s 2.3 million-member industrial Jens Weidmann, who has repeatedly called a run of four months of increases. No fanfare for Indonesia Apple leads race to become world’s first $1tn company as economy hits The race is on to become the world’s first richest man with a net worth of $99bn. His trillion-dollar company, with all eyes fixed on fortune increased by $34bn last year. On just trillion-dollar mark tech giants such as Apple, Amazon, Facebook one day in October, Bezos’s fortune increased and Alphabet, the parent company of Google. by $10.3bn, when Amazon posted profits much Indonesia’s economy, the largest in Southeast Asia, hit a milestone Financial commentators and investors higher than expected and the company’s last year by reaching $1 trillion, yet the mood wasn’t celebratory predict 2018 will herald the first firm with a shares spiked. as the government continued to miss its revenue targets. stock market valuation of $1tn (£738bn) or Facebook, which floated on the stock market Gross domestic product was an estimated $1.004 trillion more, if technology share prices continue to less than six years ago, is in fifth place, with in 2017, but economic growth was probably lower than the 5.2 rise as strongly as in 2017. a valuation of $520bn. Shares in the social percent initially projected, according to figures released by Finance Apple is leading the way, with a market network rose 56% last year. Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Tuesday. valuation of $869bn on Tuesday, a figure arrived The world’s top five companies are Despite having the fourth-biggest population in the world at by multiplying the company’s share price by collectively worth $3.35tn – more than than -- at more than 260 million -- the government collects little tax the number of shares in circulation. gross domestic product of the UK and every from its citizens. Government revenue was 14 percent of GDP The Californian firm that transformed mobile other country on Earth bar the US, China, in 2016, lower than its peers, and a key obstacle to faster growth communications, music and photography with Japan and Germany. and credit-rating upgrades. Revenue was 80 trillion rupiah ($5.9 the iPhone is $140bn ahead of Alphabet, which The huge increase in valuations came after billion) short of its target last year. has a market value of $729bn. global stock markets ended 2017 at record highs, Indrawati, who pledged tax reforms after taking office in 2016, Apple, which was on the verge of bankruptcy as share prices benefitted from President Donald said the government has to strike a balance in chasing its revenue in 1997 when its founder, Steve Jobs, retook the Trump’s tax cuts and continued quantitative goals, and doesn’t want to increase pressure on companies that helm, would require a 15% increase in its share easing from central banks. are already taking strain because of volatile commodity prices. price to tip over the $1tn threshold. Apple’s Many analysts expect global stocks to “If we look back to 2014, 2015 and 2016, the tax targets were shares increased by 47% last year. continue to rise in 2018, which would be the too high and created doubts about the credibility of the state The shares were up 1.8% to $172.26 at the ninth consecutive year of gains for the US S&P budget. The public also felt that we were breathing down their close of trading in New York on Tuesday after 500 index. However, some are concerned that neck,” she said. “In the future, we will improve our tax collection a dip in the last couple of weeks. shares are overvalued and warn of a “correction”. process and coordination between agencies.” Barron’s, the US investment magazine, Other market analysts and financial Despite the lower tax take, the government also underspent declared on its cover last week that Apple would experts predict Amazon could beat Apple to on its budget, resulting in an estimated fiscal deficit of 2.6 percent hit the $1tn valuation this year and that “we George Salmon, an equity analyst at dollar company was “inevitable”. “It may not the $1tn title. of GDP compared with a previous forecast of 2.9 percent. The don’t think the peak [of Apple’s rise] is near”. stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown, said markets happen this year, if we have a correction [fall Stephen Mitchell, head of global strategy government is mandated to keep the shortfall under 3 percent Apple earned revenue of $229bn in its latest were forecast to continue their boom in 2018 in stock markets] but it is certain to happen for Jupiter Asset Management, said it was of GDP. financial year, and made profits of $48bn – and that it was “just a matter of time” before over the next five years,” he said. “definitely a possibility” that a trillion-dollar (Source: Bloomberg) roughly as much as Microsoft and JP Morgan one of the big US tech stocks tipped over into Microsoft is in third place with a valuation company could be created this year. combined. a trillion-dollar company. of $664bn, but some analysts reckon that “In the tech sector sales are growing and David Rolfe, chief investment officer at “With Facebook, Google and Amazon the online retail juggernaut Amazon is far profits are growing, and most of them [the big Pakistan central bank allows Wedgewood Partners, which manages $25bn attracting an ever-increasing number of eyeballs more likely to take the crown as the first $1tn US tech companies] have got a huge amount worth of funds, told Barron’s: “You have to on screen, the US tech sector has more than company because it is growing so quickly. of cash,” he said. “However, I think it probably yuan-based trade with China go back to Rockefeller and Standard Oil to played its part in the global stock market rally,” Amazon is the world’s fourth most-valuable will not be Apple, I don’t think 2018 is going find a company so dominant in a business so Salmon said. “However, it’s Apple, one of the company with a market capitalisation of to be a vintage year for them. It looks as if they Pakistan›s central bank has allowed the Chinese yuan to be used large. Other companies settle for unit sales older tech giants, that’s in pole position to break $566bn. have overpriced the iPhone X. You’ve got to for bilateral trade and investment activities, a move which could or revenues, but in many quarters, Apple through the $1tn barrier.” Amazon’s shares increased in value by 58% look at Google, Microsoft and Amazon. I would replace the US dollar for transactions in the strategic CPEC projects. collects more than 80% of gross profit across Ian Forrest, an investment research analyst last year, turning the company’s founder and say it’s most likely to be Google.” The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Monday that all the smartphone industry.” at the Share Centre, said the creation of a trillion- chief executive, Jeff Bezos, into the world’s (Source: The Guardian) arrangements for using the Chinese currency for trade and investment were already in place. The adoption of yuan means that Pakistan and China would World stocks smash new records as New Year party rolls on be able to replace the US dollar for transactions in the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. World stocks hit fresh highs on Wednesday with European month high of $1.2081 hit on Tuesday. continues to grow strongly. Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal had said markets joining the party as early indications suggest 2018 “Investors have woken up in the new year and looked Borrowing costs across the euro area stayed near recent on December 19 that the government was considering a Chinese will be another year of synchronized global growth led by a forward to another firm year for global growth with very highs: the yield on Germany’s 10-year government bond - proposal to use renminbi or yuan instead of the US dollar for shining European economy. muted downside risk,” said Investec economist Philip Shaw, the benchmark for the region - was close to a two-month payments in all bilateral trade. After its biggest one-day gain in more than two weeks though he warned against reading too much into the first high at 0.46 percent. «The SBP, in the capacity of the policy maker of financial and on Tuesday, in the wake of its best year since 2009 in 2017, two trading days of the new year. Earlier in the session, Asian stocks struck a range of currency markets, has taken comprehensive policy related measures MSCI’s index of global stocks .MIWD00000PUS, which “The converse is the sell-off in bond markets: the idea new peaks: a record high for Philippine stocks .PSI, a 24- to ensure that imports, exports and financing transactions can tracks shares in 47 countries, pushed on to new record highs. that inflation pressures may be firmer than expected and year top for Thailand .SETI and a decade-high for Hong be denominated in yuan,» the Dawn reported today, quoting the The pan-European stock index opened 0.3 percent central banks could take a slightly more aggressive approach Kong .HSI. bank›s statement issued yesterday. higher, adding to gains for their Asian and the United than previously thought,” he said. MSCI’s index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan The decision was taken after rejecting a Chinese proposal States counterparts overnight as manufacturing surveys For example, ECB rate-setter Ewald Nowotny told a .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.4 percent, having jumped 1.4 to allow yuan as legal tender in Gwadar, Balochistan, it said. pointed to a strong start for the European economy. German newspaper that the European Central Bank may percent on Tuesday in its best performance since last March. (Source: The Economic Times) The single currency EUR= was holding near a four- end its stimulus program this year if the euro zone economy (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 4, 2018 ENERGY 5

2018: the year of the oil bulls Solar’s bright future is Oil started this year with further price gains speculators decide it’s time to take profit. further away than it seems despite the quick restart of the Forties pipeline Of course, there is no certainty this is going and the equally quick repairs of a pipeline in to happen, because, as DNB Bank’s chief There is now a doctrine of what I call “solar triumphalism”: the Libya, where a pipeline blast boosted Brent oil analyst Torbjorn Kjus told Bloomberg, price of panels has been falling exponentially, the technology and WTI in the last days of 2017. Usually, “We don’t know the type of players. If they makes good practical sense, and only a few further nudges are such force majeure events are quick to push want to have a larger part of their assets in needed for solar to become a major energy source. Unfortu- prices up and down, but this time, only the commodities for the next couple of years, nately, this view seems to be wrong. Solar energy could be a push up materialized. Sentiment on the oil then they’re not going to sell those positions.” boon to mankind and the environment, but it’s going to need market is more bullish than it has been for a With so much good news for oil prices, it a lot more support and entrepreneurial and policy dynamism. long time. But how long will this optimism becomes doubtful to what extent the growth Varun Sivaram, in his forthcoming “Taming the Sun: In- hold? in U.S. shale production that will drive the novations to Harness Solar Energy and Power the Planet” lays Last week, Bloomberg’s Alex Longley listed daily total above 10 million barrels this year out this case in what may be the first important policy book of five factors to watch this year in oil, among will affect prices. This growth is the num- 2018. To be clear, Sivaram, who holds a doctorate in physics, is them the OPEC cuts, geopolitical risks, the ber-one headwind for prices, and it seems a solar expert and an energy adviser -- he’s no enemy of alter- record-high number of long positions on to be losing its power. native energy sources. He thinks government should increase crude, and of course, U.S. shale. Forecasts point to stronger demand thanks its support for energy research and development, aiming at Right now, it’s clear that optimism prevails to economic growth and the special appeal of diverse pathways, applied at various stages of technology de- over any worry that some OPEC members WTI because of its discount to Brent, which velopment, and targeting game-changing breakthroughs. In might cheat on their quotas or that Ven- currently stands at around $7 a barrel. OPEC other words, we need to recognize the limitations of today’s ezuela, for example, could increase its oil is producing less, and the results of the cuts solar power if we are going to make it really work. The first disquieting sign is that solar companies are spending production, the chances of which are virtually the economic crisis deepening and people’s protests in the kingdom as well. are now evident. U.S. drillers are producing only about 1 percent of their revenue on research and develop- nonexistent. In geopolitics, the latest from the disgruntlement growing. Saudi Arabia is on The record-high long bets on both Brent more, but there is mounting pressure from ment, well below average for a potentially major industry. You Middle East only reinforces this optimism. the short list because Crown Prince Moham- and WTI, however, are a mixed blessing. shareholders to rein in production growth might think that’s because things are going so great, but some Looking ahead, analysts identify Venezuela med bin Salman’s reform drive will see fuel On one hand, they are a clear indicator of and start making profits instead. At the start major solar users may have already maxed out their technol- and Saudi Arabia as the other hotspots that prices alone jump by as much as 80 percent overwhelming optimism, which could push of 2018, the immediate future looks pretty ogy. According to Sivaram’s estimates, four of the five most could swing the oil market this year. The this year. Add to this the introduction of prices even higher. However, the higher rosy for oil prices. significant country users -- Italy, Greece, Germany and Spain situation with Venezuela is fairly clear, with new taxes, and there is ample ground for they go, the sharper they can fall, should (Source: oilprice.com) -- have already seen solar energy flatten out in the range of 5 percent to 10 percent of total energy use. The fifth country, BP sets $1.5 billion charge China set to top Japan as world’s Japan, is only at 5 percent. Germany and the state of California have experienced op- for U.S. tax changes biggest natural gas importer erational problems as solar has grown as an energy source. Because the sun isn’t continuously available, solar power at large scale doesn’t integrate well with the electric grid, which favor steady sources such as fossil fuels or nuclear. Solar power creates an expense for the whole system, even if the panels themselves are cheaper. Silicon technologies dominate the panel market today, but Sivaram sees greater dynamic potential in perovskite, organic and quantum dot solar cells, and possibly orbital solar power satellites. Breakthroughs in those areas might lower costs and increase solar potency, making the calculus more favorable to green energy. A common view is that solar power will come into its own once batteries and other storage technologies make steady im- provements. Yet Sivaram notes that lithium-ion batteries in particular are not well-designed for storage across days, weeks and months. Also note that about 95 percent of global energy storage capacity is from hydroelectric power, a discouraging sign for the notion that solar energy storage is on a satisfactory track. Promoting solar energy also isn’t in the interest of regulated Oil giant BP will take a one-off $1.5 billion BP said in a statement. Beijing’s crackdown on pollution has put should top Japan for the full year in 2018. utilities. They fear a scenario where many users deploy solar charge to adjust to new U.S. tax rules, The British company’s shares closed China on track to overtake Japan this year “Both LNG and pipeline imports will power to detach from the energy grid, either wholly or in part. but expects a long-term boost from the down about 1 percent on Tuesday. as the world’s biggest importer of natural continue to increase in the next few years. We Other customers’ bills would have to rise to cover the costs of corporate-friendly tax rates, it said on The adjustment will not affect BP’s gas, used to replace dirtier coal. expect China to overtake Japan as the world’s the grid, and that in turn would encourage even more secession Tuesday. cash flow in the fourth quarter. China - already the biggest importer largest gas importer in 2018,” said Miaoru into solar and alternate energy sources. Because that scenario BP’s rival Royal Dutch Shell said last Exxon Mobil Corp, the world’s largest of oil and coal - is the world’s third big- Huang, Asia gas and LNG senior manager is a financial loser for the utilities, regulatory institutions dis- week it would incur a one-off charge of publicly traded oil producer, declined to gest user of natural gas behind the United at energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie. courage utilities from integrating solar power into the grid, $2-$2.5 billion for the U.S. tax changes. comment on how the U.S. tax changes States and Russia, but has to import around “But Japan will remain as the No.1 LNG which limits competition. Like BP, Shell and many other would financially affect it. 40 percent of its total needs as domestic importer till around 2028,” she added. international companies said they expected Chevron Corp said it was studying the production can’t keep up with demand. China last year started to move millions a long-term positive impact to U.S. earnings changes but still plans to invest $8 billion Data compiled from the Thomson Reu- of households and many industrial facilities from the massive $1.5 trillion tax overhaul in the United States this year. ters Eikon terminal indicates China’s 2017 from coal to gas as part of efforts to clean that U.S. President Donald Trump signed Deferred tax assets refer in some cases imports of pipeline gas and liquefied natural its skies, sparking an unprecedented rally into law last month. It cuts the corporate to a company overpaying taxes in advance gas (LNG) will top 67 million tons, up by in overseas import orders. rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and and then getting them back in the form more than a quarter from a year earlier. LNG China’s three biggest LNG suppliers temporarily reduces the tax burden for of tax relief. imports alone surged more than 50 percent. are Australia, Qatar and Malaysia, while most individuals as well. BP has large operations in oil and The data, which includes LNG tanker pipeline imports come from Central Asia But BP said that in the short term, gas production in the Gulf of Mexico arrivals to China and pipeline monthly and Myanmar. A pipeline connecting China lower tax rates will affect its deferred and onshore shale operations as well as import flow estimates, is preliminary as to Russia is under construction. tax assets and liabilities, resulting in a refineries that can process up to 746,000 December figures are not yet available. Unlike established LNG importers which one-off, non-cash charge of $1.5 billion barrels per day of crude oil, according to China still lags Japan, with gas annual import the bulk of their cargoes under long- to its 2017 fourth quarter results which its website. imports of around 83.5 million tons, all as term contracts with fixed monthly volumes are due to be announced on Feb. 8. On Dec. 22, Trump signed the tax LNG, but its overall gas imports topped and a link to the oil market, many Chinese “The ultimate impact of the change overhaul into law, cutting tax rates for Japan’s in September and again in No- utilities buy LNG in the spot market when Solar energy has great potential for emerging economies, in the U.S. corporate income tax rate is businesses and offering some temporary vember, government data and shipping they need it at short notice, such as the but some very basic preconditions are not in place. India, for subject to a number of complex provisions cuts for some individuals and families. flows show. current peak demand winter season. instance, would need to end its kerosene and electricity sub- in the legislation which BP is reviewing,” (Source: Reuters) Analysts say the trend is set and China (Source: Reuters) sidies. Freer trade in solar technologies is found in Tanzania and Rwanda but not always in West Africa. In sum, just improving silicon panel solar technologies may not be enough. Sivaram calls for “systemic innovation,” based Gas wars: the first energy conflict in 2018 on “refashioning entire energy systems -- including physical The eastern Mediterranean is expected to witness the first and Egypt held their first joint naval exercise for the first infrastructure, economic markets, and public policies -- to en- conflict of 2018, as developments at the end of 2017 are time in quite a while. able a high penetration of solar energy.” I would add that we signaling worsening relationships between Turkey and the In response, Ankara initiated its own moves and issued a should reconsider the abandonment of nuclear energy, a topic Greek Cypriot-Greece-Israel-Egypt bloc. navigational telex to reserve an area for military exercises. that Sivaram touches upon but does not emphasize. Territorial disputes over natural gas and newly discov- The area covers the disputed sixth, seventh, eighth and One lesson is that marginal improvements aren’t always ered hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean ninth blocs that the Greek Cypriots had declared as their enough, and economic dynamism is more important than we basin are the reason. EEZ. Ankara’s declaration came at a time when Saipem have been realizing. A whole series of integrated breakthroughs Up until a few years ago, the hope was that these hydro- 12000 arrived in the Mediterranean. may be required to move significantly closer to a green energy carbon reserves would offer a real opportunity for a peaceful Also, the Turkish army has kept some of its forces in future. I do think the U.S. will eventually get there, but after settlement of the Cyprus conflict. But these optimistic hopes the eastern Mediterranean following NATO’s Standing reading “Taming the Sun,” I have to wonder if we are up to the vanished with both Turks and Greek Cypriots unilaterally Maritime Task Forceexercize, which was conducted Nov. challenge now. (Source: Bloomberg) speeding up exploration and drilling operations. 7-16. The Turkish navy’s TCG Gediz and TCG Barbaros In 2004, the European Union had declared the Greek frigates; the TCG Kalkan, TCG Mizrak, TCG Bora and TCG Cypriots the sole entity representing the island of Cyprus Meltem gunboats; the TCG Akar fuel tanker; and four LNG deal with QatarGas and accepted it as an EU member. Feeling that its hand has Calypso region between March 1 and Dec. 26 in accordance underwater commando teams are still in the sixth bloc. been strengthened following the EU decision, the Greek with an agreement reached during the trilateral summit. In 2018, Turkey will have its first brand-new drilling saves Pakistan $76 million Cypriots claimed the right of natural resources exploration Moreover, Italy, Greece, Greek Cypriot and Israel had vessel, the Deepsea Metro II. According to navigation in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Cyprus. already agreed on the construction of a gas pipeline from data, the ship left Norway’s Hoylandsbygda port some Buying of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from state-owned QatarGas Turkey, however, has been insisting that the Greek Cypriot newly discovered fields. The project — dubbed “East-Med” two weeks ago and is currently sailing west of Portugal. under the long-term agreement saved Pakistan $76 million in the administration in Nicosia cannot unilaterally “adopt laws — will cost some $6 billion. An over 2,000-kilometer-long It is expected to arrive in Turkey on Dec. 31. The critical last three months when compared with the current spot market regarding the exploitation of natural resources on behalf (1,243-mile-long) pipeline will channel offshore reserves question now is whether the Turkish navy will be providing rates, documents revealed on Tuesday. of the entire island,” as it doesn’t represent the Turkish in the Levantine basin to Greece and Italy. military escorts for the new drilling vessel. Official documents, available with The News, showed that Cypriots. Also, there is a separate disputed EEZ between The East-Med project could be interpreted as an effort to If the Deepsea Metro II is to be escorted by a Turkish Pakistan saved almost Rs8 billion ($76 million) in December, Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean — another form a regional alliance between Greek Cypriot and Greece navy fleet while sailing to the sixth bloc, then the affair January and February of the fiscal year of 2017/18 because of point of tension in the conflict. to confront Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean. The Greek is bound to heat up. In the meantime, the Nicosia buying LNG under a 15-year agreement with Qatari government Ankara reacted strongly to the Greek Cypriots’ natural Cypriots and Greece also signed a separate agreement with administration also announced that drilling operations as compared with recent spot purchases. gas drilling efforts in July. The Turkish army dispatched a Israel to channel natural gas reserves in the Mediterranean in its EEZ would begin Dec. 30 and that Saipem 12000 Pakistan’s government-to-government LNG buying deal with frigate in the eastern Mediterranean to “monitor a drilling basin via an undersea pipeline. Italy’s participation in this would join the operations as well. Qatar has long been subject to criticism. ship that is believed to have begun searching for oil and gas project didn’t come as a surprise, as Italy has already been Now the question is whether Turkey’s Deepsea Metro Industry officials termed the deal expensive as compared to off ethnically divided Cyprus despite Turkey’s objections,” exploring natural gas in the Mediterranean on behalf of II and Saipem 12000 and naval fleets escorting them will spot market prices of LNG. The Associated Press reported. the Greeks. The undersea pipeline is expected to channel confront each other in the disputed sixth bloc. The data analysis of Pakistan LNG Limited’s (PLL) recent- On Nov. 20, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi natural gas from Israel’s Leviathan Basin and Greece’s 12th One should also consider domestic developments in ly floated tenders seeking delivery during December 2017 and visited Greek Cypriot for a trilateral meeting in Nicosia to plot — also called Aphrodite — to Crete, and then to Europe relevant countries when trying to measure the extent January and February 2018 under spot market rates, however, discuss hydrocarbon resources in the region. In addition via Greece. of a possible crisis. A possible hydrocarbon crisis is an presented entirely different picture. PLL’s tenders fetched bid to Egypt’s president, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras On Dec. 5, the energy ministers of Greece, Greek Cypri- excellent domestic political issue that all governments prices ranging from 13.98 to 16.89 percent of Brent, which is much also participated in the meeting, which was hosted by Greek ot and Israel and the Italian ambassador to Greek Cypriot can use to consolidate their nationalist support base. higher than the prices agreed under the long-term sale-purchase Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. The Turkish Foreign signed an accord in Nicosia on the construction of the East- In sum — and in comparison to 2017 — one will witness agreement with QatarGas. Ministry, on the other hand, declared the outcome of the Med pipeline. The participation of EU representatives in more eventful scenes in the eastern Mediterranean in In December, an average saving per LNG cargo import stood trilateral meeting to be “null and void.” the ceremony indicated Brussels’ support for the project. 2018. The only actor that could mediate between Ankara at around $2.30 million. For six cargoes imported every month, However, despite Turkey’s opposition, drillship Saipem In 2017, the Greek Cypriots, Israel and Greece con- and Nicosia is not Washington but Moscow, the new shining under state-run Pakistan State Oil’s deal with QatarGas, total 12000 sailed to carry out exploration and drilling operations ducted three joint exercises in March, June and No- star of the Middle East. savings for December came around $13.8 million. on behalf of French TOTAL and Italian ENI companies in the vember. At the beginning of November 2017, Greece (Source: oilprice.com) (Source: thenews.com.pk) ADVERTISEMENTS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 4, 2018

World’s awkward silence UAE arranges its influence in over Rohingya genocide warnings Yemen’s Hadhramout Province By Simon Tisdall By Hind Al-Kadimi A stark warning from the UN in mid-December that genocide The United Arab Emirates, as a member may be taking place in Myanmar has been met by an awkward of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition fighting silence around the world, indicating a limited appetite for force- in Yemen, has intensified its moves in the ful humanitarian intervention, even in the most extreme cases. eastern province of Hadhramout to arrange The persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority is beginning the future of its influence in the largest and to resemble the plight of the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994, albeit on a richest oil-producing area of the country. smaller scale. After failing to stop the Rwanda slaughter, when up As the fighting intensified on the West to 1 million people died, the international community vowed it Coast, Shabwa and Al-Bayda, along with would never happen again. Now, it seems, the nightmare is back. violent clashes in Naham in Sana’a, and Al- Jawf, the UAE summoned the Governor of Hadhramout, Major General Faraj Salmin Al-Bassani; he left Mukalla for Abu Dhabi on 12 December. According to the governor’s media office, the visit was an official invita- tion from the UAE to discuss security and military issues as well as developmental projects in the province. The UAE took advantage of its part in the formation of the so-called Hadrami- yah Elite Forces, which liberated Mukalla from Al-Qaeda control in April 2016, in cementing its influence in the province. It controls its ports and has established detention centers for hundreds of detainees The prisons and secret detention facilities established by the UAE in Yemen. who are affiliated with Al-Qaeda. In the most important meetings of the The accelerated UAE moves in Hadhramout appear to have ongoing visit, Al-Bassani met with the Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN high commissioner for human settled on the most important province in terms of location Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed rights, previously described systematic attacks on the Rohingya Bin Zayed, who opened Al-Rayyan Interna- and wealth, in anticipation of any other arrangements for the by Myanmar’s military and civilian militias as ethnic cleansing, tional Airport in Mukalla after UAE troops an assessment shared by the U.S.. legitimate authorities or regional powers therein. had turned it into a prison following the But in a BBC interview last month, Hussein went a big step liberation of the city. The prisoners being according to an investigation published by the province. According to the governor’s Saudi Arabia also has wide influence in further. “You cannot rule out the possibility that acts of genocide held in Al-Rayyan were transferred to the Associated Press last June. media office, businessmen have shown their Hadhramout, thanks to the geographical have been committed … It wouldn’t surprise me in the future if central prison in Mukalla, amid intense The latest moves come just months after willingness to implement investment pro- factor, notably the broad border strip which the court were to make such a finding on the basis of what we see.” security, local sources said. the agency report on the violations com- jects that will have a significant impact at links the province to the Kingdom, as well The embarrassed silence that greeted his remarks reflects Bin Zayed ordered the relevant au- mitted by UAE forces in Yemen so as not the provincial level. as its influence among the Hadrami tribes. the fact that there is zero support for direct action in Myanmar. thorities in his country to open a route to appear to be a reaction and approval of A large proportion of the UAE popula- The group of forces and leaders affiliated The concept of forceful humanitarian intervention, formulated for Etihad Airways to the airport without what was published, say observers. The tion is of Yemeni origin, such as the Mana- to the UAE, and the parties which support in a celebrated speech in Chicago in 1999 by Tony Blair – and delay. Despite the importance attached to opening of the Abu Dhabi-Mukalla route to hil, Al-Katheeri and Al-Amiri tribes. The the control of the Hadramiyah Elite Forces implemented in Kosovo, Sierra Leone and East Timor – is blown. opening Al-Rayyan after it has been closed Etihad Airways flights is intended to reduce meetings in the Emirates, therefore, had over the entire Hadhramout Province were The disastrous invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, justified for three years and the obviously-required the anger of Hadhramout residents over a significant presence of Yemeni Shaikhs. involved in a kind of cold war with the re- on moral and humanitarian grounds after the WMD argument coordination with the legitimate authorities the closure of the airport. What’s more, UAE influence maining Yemeni army forces which belong imploded, discredited the “Blair doctrine”. in Yemen, the meeting did not involve any Yemenis have not been allowed into the The tribal presence on the sidelines of to northern and southern provinces; they Now the pendulum has swung the other way. Myanmar’s representative of the Yemeni government UAE for nearly three years. the governor’s visit to the UAE suggests refuse to surrender their positions and are generals are not alone in their impunity. In Yemen, which or Ministry of Transport. In the context of the UAE arrangements that Abu Dhabi is keen to consolidate its thus subject to incitement and threats. Boris Johnson, Britain’s foreign secretary, terms “the world’s Bin Zayed’s guidance at the opening of for Hadhramout before the end of war, influence in Hadhramout in the future by Hadhramout represents approximately worst humanitarian crisis”, Saudi forces are accused of caus- the airport showed the extent of the UAE Bin Zayed also announced a $100 million taking advantage of the established social one-third of Yemen’s territory and is thus ing large-scale civilian casualties, and of illegally blocking aid interventions in the sovereign decisions of grant to strengthen security and military connections. What’s more, the UAE is seek- divided into two military zones, one in the as a weapon of war. the Yemeni government. The announce- services in the province and to support the ing to control the Hadhramout Valley, de- valley section and the second along the coast. A similar situation exists in Syria. Bashar al-Assad, the coun- ment of the re-opening of the airport was infrastructure, particularly the electricity spite the fact that its 18 directorates are The United Arab Emirates is responsi- try’s president, has been widely accused of war crimes. But after made in Abu Dhabi, not Aden, and by the and health sectors, which are deteriorat- outside UAE influence. ble for managing the security and military he still sits tight in Damascus. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and not the ing badly. In the end, the accelerated UAE moves situation in Yemen’s southern provinces. Lack of political will is only one reason why the international Yemeni Prime Minister. Governor Al-Bassani’s visit to the UAE in Hadhramout appear to have settled on International organizations accuse it of community appears powerless to halt mass killings. Hussein’s UAE violations has also included meetings with officials the most important province in terms of committing abductions and torturing ac- prediction that Myanmar’s nominal leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, Abu Dhabi appeared to be trying to escape from the local energy, health, oil and petro- location and wealth, in anticipation of any tivists and citizens. It is also accused by and its top general, Min Aung Hlaing, could end up before a international pressure following human chemical sectors with the aim of coordinating other arrangements for the legitimate au- opponents of undermining the legitimacy court was presumably a reference to the international criminal rights violations in areas under its influence an improvement of services in all of them. thorities or regional powers therein. of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and court, founded under UN auspices in 2002 and backed by 123 in southern and eastern Yemen, especially Al-Bassani has invited UAE businesses to It is unlikely that Abu Dhabi’s recent his government in those provinces by sup- states out of a possible 195. The ICC is the world’s criminal the establishment of 18 secret prisons in invest in Hadhramout, pointing out that moves fall within the context of the Sau- porting the Southern Transitional Council, court of last resort, charged with investigating and prosecuting liberated provinces, notably Aden and Mu- conditions are ripe and that all investors will di-UAE competition over influence in the which seeks secession. individuals responsible for genocide, war crimes and crimes kalla. These have witnessed brutal torture, receive full care from the local authority in province. This is especially so given that (Source: Middle East Monitor) against humanity. But Myanmar, like Syria and Yemen, is not a party to the ICC and lies outside its jurisdiction. The only way its leaders could face a judicial reckoning would be if the UN Security Council referred them to the ICC. This is not going to happen Korea confusion: Tillerson wants to talk to Kim, Trump doesn’t because China, a permanent member and Myanmar’s close By Robert A. Manning sands — including thousands of Americans (there commercial and political ally, would veto any such move. are some 200,000 U.S. citizens in Seoul on any Likewise, Assad is protected by Russia, which has strategic As troubling as current tensions are, 2018 prom- given day). interests in Syria. ises to be an even more dangerous year on the Pyongyang has thousands of long-range artil- The ICC has enjoyed limited success since its inception, in Korean Peninsula. lery within range of Seoul, just 35 miles away. large part because major powers such as the U.S., China, Russia Amid conflicting signals from U.S. President It is not clear that U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim and India reject its jurisdiction, ostensibly on grounds of national Donald J. Trump’s administration and anticipated Mattis agrees with those who favor pre-emptive sovereignty – although the U.S. supports the court when it suits its hints of flexibility in North Korean leader Kim action. He has spoken of a U.S. use of force only purposes overseas. The ICC has also been weakened by member Jong-un’s New Year’s statement, one immediate in response to a North Korean attack. countries refusing to enforce its statute. question is whether and under what circumstances On December 15, Mattis disputed Pyongyang’s The most notorious case concerns Omar al-Bashir, the Su- Washington will be willing to open talks with ability to threaten the United States, saying that danese president accused of genocide in Darfur. When Bashir Pyongyang to defuse the crisis. its ICBM “has not yet shown to be a capable threat visited South Africa in 2015, Jacob Zuma’s government ignored There was no ambiguity in U.S. Secretary of State against us right now.” its legal obligation to arrest him. Following criticism of its behav- Rex Tillerson’s remarks at the Atlantic Council This skepticism about North Korea’s ICBM ior, South Africa and other African members have threatened on December 12. “We’re ready to talk any time capability is shared by a number of technical to quit the ICC. North Korea would like to talk, and we’re ready analysts who argue that Pyongyang has not as Leading countries with the capacity to make a difference in to have the first meeting without preconditions. yet demonstrated a re-entry vehicle that is able places such as Myanmar or, for example, war-torn South Su- Let’s just meet and let’s — we can talk about the to survive the heat, pressure, and thrust associ- dan, are also frequently guilty of failing to uphold international weather if you want,” he said. ated with a nuclear weapon re-entering the at- treaties, human rights conventions and resolutions which they But no sooner had Tillerson made the offer to The Trump administration mosphere, nor has a guidance system been able previously signed up to through the UN system. meet with North Korea than the Trump adminis- may take action that could have to hit a target. A total of 143 countries backed the convention on the preven- tration — and even Tillerson’s own spokesperson catastrophic consequences. Among Asian security analysts in the United tion and punishment of genocide, adopted by the UN general — began to walk it back. The White House said States, the dominant view is that the least bad assembly in 1948. there was “no change in policy.” privately talk about giving Kim a “bloody nose.” policy response to a nuclear North Korea, even one A more recent, egregious example of international backsliding By the end of the week, Tillerson himself said U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster that is armed with an ICBM, would be enhanced is the failure to honor the principle of the collective “respon- that Pyongyang had to “earn” the right to talks has said on several occasions that if and when containment and strengthened deterrence. The sibility to protect”. Shamed by the failures in Rwanda and the by suspending missile and nuclear tests. North Korea obtains the capability to hit the U.S. fallacy of the “bloody-nose” scenario — a limited Balkans in the 1990s, a UN Some analysts see a narrow window of op- mainland with a nuclear-tipped intercontinen- strike against nuclear or missile launch facilities world summit meeting in portunity opening up after Kim announced that tal ballistic missile (ICBM), deterrence would — is that it assumes that because Pyongyang’s top 2005 agreed all countries With no appetite his nuclear weapons program was “completed” no longer be adequate. McMaster has spoken of priority is regime survival it will not retaliate for have shared responsibility for humanitarian and United Nations Under-Secretary-General “preventive war” in language that is eerily similar fear of its destruction. to prevent and respond to intervention and Jeffrey Feltman went on a diplomatic mission to that used by the George W. Bush administra- But North Korea is likely to respond by firing the most serious violations to Pyongyang early in December. tion before it invaded Iraq in 2003. thousands of artillery shells at Seoul. Then what? of international human no support for With South Korea set to host the Winter Olym- This language is curious. U.S. deterrence has Moreover, it will take some time for the recently- rights and humanitar- a powerful ICC, pics in February and no major U.S.-South Korean prevented war on the Korean Peninsula since implemented comprehensive UN economic sanc- ian law. military exercises scheduled in the spring, if there 1953, it has deterred a Soviet Union armed with tions to inflict serious pain on North Korea to the The summit agreed that there is unlikely is a period of quiet, as Tillerson hoped for, an 30,000 nuclear warheads and, since 1964, China’s degree that it might change Pyongyang’s behavior. the principle of state sov- to be justice in exploratory round of diplomacy might not be out nuclear arsenal. In the case of Iran, it took more than two years. ereignty carried with it the Myanmar or of the question. Few analysts would argue with the logic that Though North Korea is a far more isolated economy, obligation of the state to Tillerson’s hint of flexibility did not, however, Pyongyang’s top priority is regime survival. U.S. it is likely to feel the pain sooner. Fortunately, we protect its own citizens. If a elsewhere. reflect any change in the basic U.S. policy of “maxi- officials — over several different administrations probably have at least two to three years before state was unable or unwill- mum pressure and dialogue.” Indeed, during a — have repeatedly said that any North Korean at- Kim has a reliable, operational ICBM. ing to do so, the international community was empowered to act. UN Security Council session on December 15, tack on the United States or its allies would result Developing a re-entry vehicle carrying a nu- In Myanmar, where about 870,000 Rohingya have been forced Tillerson called on China and Russia to apply more in a swift and overwhelming military response. clear weapon with an accurate guidance system to flee to Bangladesh and up to 10,000 people have been killed pressure on North Korea beyond UN sanctions. Nonetheless, after major policy reviews, the that can survive is very difficult rocket science. so far, their government has not only failed to protect them. It The more ominous question is whether Ameri- Trump administration appears to view North But there is a growing fear that in its haste to also appears directly culpable. can anxieties and impatience with Pyongyang are Korea’s possession of an operational ICBM as “solve” the North Korean nuclear problem, the This is precisely the sort of situation the 2005 UN declaration building toward U.S. military action in North Korea. an unacceptable threat that would trigger U.S. Trump administration may take action that could was intended to prevent. And it promised, if and when such crises Senior Trump officials, troubled by the almost military action. have catastrophic consequences. occurred, that member states would take “timely and decisive two dozen missile and nuclear tests Pyongyang has This regardless of the fact that a pre-emptive One hopes that diplomacy will triumph. One action, in accordance with the UN charter”. All over the world, conducted this year, frequently argue that “time U.S. strike would almost certainly trigger a North way or another, 2018 may prove to be a decisive this solemn promise is being broken on a daily basis. is running out” for diplomacy, holding out the Korean military response and risk of escalation year on the Korean Peninsula. (Source: The Guardian) threat of military force. Some military planners that could result in the death of hundreds of thou- (Source: Newsweek) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 4, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Protests in Iran: Co-opting the people’s The U.S. hidden and open expression of religious democracy objectives in Yemen 1 with the help of the long arm of the U.S. Treasury, pressured its European allies and other members of the in- ternational community into approving additional sanctions, which were contained in six European Union and six Unit- ed Nations Security Council resolutions. These exhaustive economic sanctions even targeted non-U.S. companies that attempted to do business with Iran, as was bluntly pointed out by former Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, David Cohen, who declared, “Foreign banks and businesses still have to make a choice: they can do business with Iran, or they can do business with the U.S.—not both.” After the historic implementation of the JCPOA, E.U. and U.N. sanctions were terminated with relative ease, but with U.S. sanctions fixed in law, only an act of the U.S. congress could terminate them permanently, and hence, a system of By Farzad Farhadi presidential “waivers” was created, which allowed the U.S. executive to “waive” application of the myriad of sanctions on Iran for time periods from 30 to 90 days. After the final TEHRAN — When the Yemeni ballistic missile was fired at agreement was reached but before the U.S. sanctions could Yamama Palace, lots of hidden issues about the coordination be “waived,” an interval of unspecified duration had to elapse of the United States and Al Saud wasunfolded. It was such that in order to allow the U.S. sufficient time to take “preparatory Donald Trump expressed his solidarity with Malik Salman after steps.” This was an apparent ruse, which contravened Aya- remain effectively frozen by the U.S. financial syndicate, regime, in collusion with the U.S., had any connection with the rocket attack, in which, as some Yemeni sources have reported, tollah Khamenei’s insistence for sanctions relief upon the which exercises the power to place a stranglehold on Iran, or backing and amplifying the protests. he stressed on the need to push for more pressure on the army final agreement’s implementation. “This has to happen,” the any other country for that matter, that does not comply with The secret MOU and popular committees In order to defeat them. This call has Leader rightly insisted, adding pointedly, “If lifting sanctions Washington’s wishes. So despite the fact that the JCPOA Nevertheless, according to reports by sources inside the shown the contradictions in Trump›s words over human and is supposed to depend on another new process, why did we has been in effect since January 2016, that Iran has been Zionist regime, the U.S. and the Israeli entity have signed humanitarian issues even more than before. negotiate with them in the first place?” found to be in full compliance by the IAEA, and that banks a pact to address the omnipresent “Iranian threat” in ac- Today it›s obvious for the Arab and Western public opinion Post-JCPOA expectations and businesses can legally engage in transactions with the cordance with the U.S. president’s Iran strategy speech of that the Saudis are targeting the Yemeni people and killing them Perhaps the Iranian people themselves held the highest Islamic Republic, the Iranian economy is still feeling the October 13. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) with American, British and French weapons. And the reason for hopes for the positive economic impact of the JCPOA, judg- residual effects of almost 40 years of U.S. sanctions, and between the Washington and Tel Aviv regimes was signed on their support for the Saudi Arabia in the United Nations and ing by the post agreement euphoria exhibited by exuberant for that reason, Iranians are still failing to receive the full December 12 at the White House, and enumerated specific other international circles is that they›re after selling arms to crowds of people who took to the streets of Tehran in cele- fiscal benefit of the agreement. plans for joint U.S.-Israeli teams to destabilize Iran as well Riyadh. That›s how Saudi money has overcome humanity and bration after the deal was inked in Vienna on July 14, 2015. Protests emerge as to deal with its allies, Syria and the Lebanese resistance has led Western countries to close their eyes on the crimes that Ominously, expectations of rapid economic recovery in Iran As was previously mentioned, the U.S.-imposed sanctions movement, Hezbollah. The MOU came almost one week are being committed against Yemeni people. were not voiced by many figures within the government against Iran cannot be terminated without an act of the after the announcement by the American president of his The Yemeni missile fired at Yamama Palace actually revealed itself. For his part, Central Bank of Iran governor Valiollah U.S. congress, therefore, the U.S. president must “certify” decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. many facts: that the Yemeni people, who are actually defending Seif expressed doubts that economic improvement would Iran’s compliance with the terms of the JCPOA in order Concerning the impact of the secret MOU, Israeli channel themselves against aggressors, face the support of the international materialize before March, 2016, while petroleum minis- to grant a waiver of sanction provisions. The current U.S. 10 reporter Barak Ravid remarked that, compared to the community for Saudi Arabia. But the international community ter Bijan Zanganeh, in a slightly more optimistic tone, had president failed to do this, as he announced to the world in embassy move announcement on December 6, the new pact does not respond to the killings of women and children in Yemen predicted an increase of a million barrels of oil a day within a speech brimming with calumnies against Iran on October would have “a far greater impact on the security of Israel’s and remains silent in the face of all these crimes. six or seven months of the lifting of sanctions. 13, 2016. He also accused the previous U.S. president of citizens.” A stretch of logic is not required to conclude that The crimes of the Saudi-led coalition occurs with the green Sadly, expectations of a new age of prosperity in Iran lifting sanctions against Iran “just before what would have the December 12 MOU contained the U.S.-Israeli blueprint light of the United States and of course, with its weapons. The seemed to plummet in direct proportion to crude oil pric- been the total collapse of the Iranian regime,” a statement for co-opting protests in Iran and then escalating the turmoil. Experts of Yemen affairs believe that the United State is after es, and while the nuclear agreement allowed the Islamic that makes clear the sentiments of the current occupant of Religious democracy strategic and tactical goals in Yemen. Republic to sell as much oil as customers would want to the White House. Despite the deleterious effect of his decer- Concerning the Iranian protestors, the Israeli prime Indeed, in addition to U.S. undeniable support for the Saudis buy, the resulting revenue did not rebound as anticipated. tification efforts, the U.S. president, apparently oblivious to minister preached, “They seek freedom. They seek justice. in Yemen and monetization through the sale of weapons to the Furthermore, a sinister lingering effect of the U.S. sanc- the sublime hypocrisy of his statement, said, “[W]e stand in They seek the basic liberties that have been denied to them invaders, Washington is seeking to meet its hidden objectives in tions produced reluctance on the part of many bankers and total solidarity with the Iranian regime’s longest-suffering for decades.” True enough, but the denial of freedom, justice the region. This is due to the strategic and geopolitical importance investors to risk running afoul of U.S. wrath should some victims: its own people.” and basic liberties came before the victory of the Islamic of the Yemen and the Strait of Bab Al-Mandab. America isn›t after of the sanctions “snap back.” Thus, Iran has been hit by a In the face of low oil prices, a lack of foreign investment Revolution, not afterwards, at the hands of the U.S.-installed peace or putting an end to war in Yemen. And that›s because it “double-whammy” of low oil prices, which adversely impacted and uncertainty over the future of the JCPOA as threatened by shah. As Ayatollah Khamenei has explained, the Islamic sees the continuation of these conditions as an opportunity for the revenue stream, along with a sluggish return of foreign the U.S. president and congress, Iran’s economy is expected Republic of Iran is a religious democracy in which citizens its own military presence in the region. The geographic location investment, which included downscaling of investment by to grow at a rate of 5% over the current year while inflation enjoy full rights and freedoms. “Genuine democracy – freedom of Yemen and its oil and gas resources have contributed to the major oil companies. Furthermore, it must be understood is projected at 9%. These figures translate into a net loss in of the people, relying on the votes of the people – is sacred continuation of US policy of war in this country for the sake of that relief under the JCPOA only applies to the so-called purchasing power of 4% for the average Iranian consumer, to us,” the Leader wrote. Moreover, he previously stated, realization of its political and economic interests. “secondary” sanctions; the “primary” sanctions applied to who undoubtedly must be disheartened by not seeing the “Justice should be forcefully demanded by all the people The strengthening of Ansarullah power over the past three U.S. persons and firms remain in effect, as do U.S. sanctions hoped-for economic benefit from the nuclear deal materialize. and youth, so that all officials are made to pay attention to years under popular support is a major threat to the Zionist not related to the nuclear issue. Because of this frustration over what some Iranians view as the issue of justice, even if it is against their will.” regime. Neither is this a good news for the Americans, because The JCPOA notwithstanding, there remains widespread a lack of sufficiently rapid economic improvement, protests These sentiments were reiterated by Iran’s president, they see this as a threat to the Zionist regime›s marine activities reluctance among banks, investors and business in general to emerged in Mashhad on Thursday, December 28 and then Dr. Hassan Rouhani, who stated, “People have problems; in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab. engage in financial transactions with Iran due to the possible almost too quickly spread to Qom, Rasht, Kerman, Qazvin this is natural and we have to solve these problems.... Their This has led the United States and the Zionist regime to en- adverse repercussions, including being cut off from the U.S. and other provincial capitals. Unfortunately, violence has criticism is a right.” courage their allies in the anti-Yemeni coalition to attack this financial system. The decision banks and businesses are forced ensued resulting in the loss of life and destruction of property. In stark contrast to the sincere leaders of Iran, the current country, lest the interests of the Zionist regime and the United by the U.S. to make in relation to the risk involved in dealing Predictably, the U.S. president was quick to categorize White House tenant has proven himself to be a pathological States in one of the most important waterways in the world would with Iran is whether the potential for profit from the transaction the protests as political, while failing to acknowledge the liar. “We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone,” he be compromised. outweighs the costs of due diligence and possible subsequent economic basis, which has been caused largely by his coun- proclaimed on inauguration day, yet he is doing precisely that One of the reasons that have led the Zionists, the United States litigation, should a sanctioned party unknowingly be overlooked try’s harsh sanctions and other economic meddling in Iran’s to Iranians and similar peoples, who seek only the freedom and their allies to seek control over Bab Al-Mandab is that they in the process. To the detriment of the Iranian economy and internal affairs. University of Michigan history professor to choose their own destiny. Clearly gloating over reports are concerned about the transit of their goods and energy from the hopes of the citizens of the Islamic Republic, many firms Juan Cole laid the blame for the economic distress squarely of protests, violence and arrests in the western media, he strait, as well as the maintenance of the stability and security of have taken the coward’s way out by simply choosing to avoid where it belongs; on the United States and the Zionist lob- declared, “The U.S. is watching!” As we have seen, the U.S. American bases in Africa. doing business with Iran altogether. by. “[T]he U.S. is certainly a big part of the problem here, and its Zionist cohort are doing much more than merely According to observers, the main cause of U.S. and Saudis Consequently, access to the “unfrozen” oil revenues de- acting in part at the behest of the Israel lobbies and in part watching these protests in Iran unfold from afar. They are concern over the power of Ansarullah in Yemen is the domina- posited in European banks touted by a certain U.S. leader at those of the arms manufacturers and oil interests,” he actively involved in fanning the fires of discontent in the tion of Ansarullah over this essential waterway. Thus the United as “an immediate financial boost” was far from immediate, wrote. Likewise, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Islamic Republic, and may have even struck the match to States, Britain, France and the Zionist regime›s support for the and the net result is that allegedly “unfrozen” Iranian assets expressed faux support for the Iranians, but denied that his ignite the first flame. Saudis should be sought in this issue. Another point that should be considered about Yemen and the United States is Washington›s attempt to break down Yemen. The U.S. plan for Yemen is also part of its strategy in the Middle On Trump flamethrower and protests in Iran East, but it has given the separatist mission to the Saudis and TEHRAN (FNA) — Of all the various twists Iran helped Iraq and Syria in their darkest the United Arab Emirates. As it was said, Yemen has a privileged and turns of the unrests in Iran in the past few hours bend the arc of Washington and terror position: In addition to having the Strait of Bab Al-Mandeb, days, the effort by the Trump White House proxies and they have all come back with which will bring Saudi oil to the world markets, commercial to marginalize and stigmatize the Islamic a vengeance to take hope from the Iranian shipments pass through this strait to the Suez Canal and to the Republic is among the more preposterous. nation. They all speak with a single resound- Mediterranean Sea, then Europe and the United State. The man, who last year called Iran a “ter- ing voice with, in fact, unmatched hostility Economically and according to available statistics, about rorist nation” and banned all Iranians from and fervor as they stretch hands across the five to six percent of the world›s oil is flown every day from the visiting the United States, now wants to sym- nation to get others on board. Perhaps they Strait to the Suez Canal and from there to the rest of the world. pathize with the protesters and feels sorry for have already guessed that just like in Iraq, According to U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2013, the people of Iran! Lest he forgets, this is an Syria and Yemen, they are in for a bigger the amount of oil that crossed the Strait every day was about 3.8 internal matter and the people of Iran don’t defeat in Iran. million barrels. That›s equivalent to six percent of global oil trade. want Trump’s sympathy. In fact, they have As Iranians generally seem to partake of Every year, about 21,000 ships carrying various types of been paying a heavy price for Washington’s the same spirit. While esteem for the Islamic goods pass through Bab Al-Mandeb. Given the importance of unjustified sanctions regime and hostility Revolution and the establishment hasn’t fallen Bab Al-Mandeb in the global trade and transportation of oil, since the revolution of 1979. Last thing they radically in these years when the country was Western countries have also been trying to control the Strait and want to hear is for America’s “duplicitous and busy helping its allies defeat ISIL, Al-Qaeda its traffic. In pursuit of these goals, Washington started building opportunist” president to take to Twitter to and affiliates in Iraq and Syria, the people military bases near Bab Al-Mandeb. An example is the Djibouti express support for demonstrations, arguing and insulting comments. Simply put, people to Washington’s terror proxies in Iraq and of Iran haven’t lost a step – despite the eco- military base located in the western part of Bab al-Mandab. that “the Iranian government should respect attach no value to his opportunistic remarks. Syria, but to a fossilized status quo that was nomic hardships that are mainly because of Meanwhile, the Emirati are aware of the effects of Yemen on their people’s rights, including right to ex- He knows better than anyone else that a no more in the region. America’s sanctions regime. Some people their economy. Accordingly, Yemen›s political, economic and press themselves. The world is watching!” handful of those who destroyed public property The progressives and the resistance front might have their complaints but confidence military changes have a huge impact on the UAE. In fact, the The flamethrower-in-chief should take during the unrests were not peaceful protesters not only refused to let America’s proxies in the Islamic Republic and its institutions transfer of European and American embassies from Sana›a to note: Iran is the only democracy in the Middle demanding a better life for themselves and create an American caliphate in the Levant; generally hasn’t dropped at all. The large Aden is considered to be an early step towards the breakdown East, the only free nation, where in the words their families. Those protesters who were they managed to challenge old orthodoxies turnout in the presidential election some 8 of Yemen. of President Hassan Rouhani, “based on the rightfully demanding economic recovery are and get everyone on board to vote against months ago - that registered one of the largest But according to some experts, the U.S. is after instability Constitution and citizenship rights, people mostly gone home now, and the ones that Trump’s divisive decision at the UN General in the world - is only one of the many proofs and spread of terrorism in the southern provinces, so that it can are completely free to express their criticism are still out there and are no more than a Assembly to declare Jerusalem Al-Quds as to corroborate the above-mentioned claim. mention this instability in Yemen as an excuse for direct inter- and even their protest.” If they don’t break couple of hundreds in cities and towns with Israel’s new capital. Who cares? No wonder Donald Trump, ference and military presence in the country. This was the U.S. the law or destroy public property, they can a population between 100,000 and 1 million The stunning military victories of the allied a man of no fixed beliefs and values, is busy strategy in Iraq and Syria as well. But American authorities know and should voice their criticism with regard and insist on destroying private and public forces of Iran, Syria, Iraq, Russia, Hezbol- doing his escalatory damnedest from Mash- that such direct interference can›t last for a long time. That›s to all affairs. After all, “the government and properties in their nightly riots are being lah and Popular Mobilization Units in the had to Tehran. With all of this in mind, as because of the power of popular forces on the one hand, and on the country belong to the people and the peo- manipulated by the West-based social media Levant signaled that there is no country for another year in which permanent hostility the other hand, the economic blow to the European countries ple must properly express what they want.” platforms and agents of foreign intelligence terrorists and that a new Middle East that is is the clearly noticed background hum of due to the instability of Bab Al-Mandab is a very important issue. More so, unlike what the flamethrow- services and MKO (the Mojahedin-e Khalq in peace with itself and independent of the Washington’s questionable, scandalous, and The United States is looking for an opportunity for direct er-in-chief in Washington would like to Organization - a terrorist group hosted and United States really is possible. What began criminal activity, the people of Iran know military intervention in Yemen, and is trying to observe the mil- suggest, criticism is not same as violence assisted by the US) to undermine national as a limited military campaign in 2017 ended just where they are headed, where they are itary developments in Bab Al-Mandab to find this opportunity. or inflicting damage on public property, and security and peace. with the allied forces rejecting and defeating in the region, what they should be doing to But the Yemeni consciousness has not given this excuse to the certainly it cannot and shouldn’t be allowed That the Trump White House is over the one of Trump’s most vile allies ISIL in favor protect themselves, and what they should United States so far. The U.S. attack on Ansarullah›s radar sites to undermine lives and security in any given moon to see some instability in Iran should of peace and security? never expect from the White House, its war under the pretext of attacking Mason and some other ships is in country. Trump is in no position to sympa- come as surprise to no one: Resistance was It is said, the moral arc of the universe is president, their general bellicosity, and their the same direction. The goal of the United States and its allies is thize with Iranians through his outrageous the watchword for 2017. Resistance not just long, but it bends toward justice. Last year, attack dogs. to run a scenario aimed at dominating the Bab Al-Mandeb area. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 4, 2018 History of the world at year 1 after Trump By Hamid Dabashi elected president - Senator Bernie Sanders. birdie ever chirped anything but joy in this vulnerable people. He keeps up with his aghast at the moral and political bankruptcy The world has endured one complete and Given their choice between Hillary Clinton world. Then he goes about issuing his racist predecessors› habit of mass-selling arms of a «democratic system» that results in such completely calamitous year of Donald Trump, and a nefarious charlatan, Americans opted misanthropic fatwas against one thing or to Arab tyrants to kill more Muslims, gives disgraceful insults to common human decency. the president of the United States - «Mr. for the nefarious charlatan. There are certain another. them for free to Israelis to keep killing more This is in sharp contradistinction to what any President», as Americans reverentially refer to snakes in hell from which you run to dragons, One day, he bans Muslims from entering Palestinians and stealing their lands, and he decent American thinks of himself or herself. him. as we say in Persian. the U.S.; another day, he pulls the U.S. out of then awards them by declaring Jerusalem Trump›s election has brought the majority of After a tumultuous and deeply divisive The world thus nosedived into perhaps the environmental accords meant to preserve the their capital. Americans to the bosom of humanity at large presidential campaign, in a free and fair general most dangerously destructive year in its recent earth; the next day, he wants to build a wall at The world is scared witless of climate change. - fearing for themselves their own elected election, Americans elected a notoriously racist, history. We are now living that history. We are the Mexican border because he thinks Mexicans He says global warming is good to combat cold imperial officers. consistently misogynistic, white supremacist, about to finish its first year: year 1 AT (after are rapists; and the day after, he steals a whole weather. There are those among Americans who think xenophobic, real estate charlatan as their Trump). historic city and gives it to his Zionist financiers, The world is aghast at the range of Trump is a political isolationist or an economic president, entrusting him with their highest and The future historians (if Trump leaves us a before, just for fun, saying Haitians «all have sexual assaults and sexual harassment nationalist. But that is not the case. Politically, most revered political office. He was solemnly future to fathom and does not cause a nuclear AIDS». perpetrated by powerful men and here he he is a warmongering bully that has intensified sworn in to «preserve, protect and defend the holocaust or an environmental calamity does If he doesn›t have anything else to do, is the president of the United States, the bombing of nations and then sought to close the Constitution of the United States» on January not put an end to us all) ought to know that this he just tweets - a few Islamophobic videos, most dangerously powerful man on planet U.S. borders to its catastrophic humanitarian 20, 2017, at 09:00 A.M. U.S. president wakes up early in the morning defends some neo-Nazi thugs, and makes a earth, facing allegations of predatory sexual consequences. That is not isolationism. That is To be fair, in electing Donald Trump as their and the first thing he does is start bombarding few anti-Semitic remarks. His supporters just misconduct. amoral cowardice. president Americans did not have much of a the globe with the most inane, most imbecilic love him for these spontaneous outbursts of We the future historians of our present must The same goes for his economic policies. choice, for opposing him in the final election salvos of gibberish that emerge from his mental his true nature. «He tells it like it is,» they rush to anachronism to tell our posterity (if He wishes to rob the world of its natural was a singularly corrupt corporate lackey and moral indigestion. say. there will be a posterity) what has happened to resources, destroy the environment, and enrich and carpetbagger named Hillary Clinton who He calls them his «tweets». What a Trump lies, insults people us. his obscenely rich political backers. That is not systematically sabotaged the campaign of the beautiful word to abuse and waste for his Trump consistently lies, systematically The world looks at the United States today and economic nationalism. That is highway robbery only decent American that could have been blithering verbal diarrhea - no harmless cheats, unabashedly insults weak and shivers with outrage, with fear and trembling, on a global scale. 13

Apt in Kamranieh New Whole Building in Elahieh 7th floor, 250 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. lobby, 3 apts, each floor is 130 sq.m with full furn & unfurn 2 Bdrs., one duplex apt with 3 nice and cozy, excellent view Bdrs., parking storage rooms $4500 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Nice Office in Jordan Apt in Zafaranieh 120 sq.m, 3 Bdrs., almost new 4th floor, each Apt 350 sq.m parking, lobby 4 Bdrs., fully furn, excellent view, spj, gym saloon, $5500 Price per each sq $40 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Ms.Diba: 09128103206

Apt in Fereshteh New Whole Building in a beautiful flat with stunning view Jordan_Elahieh from 8th floor, 292 sq.m 2 block, 10 Apts total 4 Bdrs., furn & unfurn 25 rooms, Tehran view, roof located in a very nice residential garden, outdoor pool garden apartment & peaceful located in roof, pkg neighborhood $6500 Suitable for Embassy & Residency Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Ms.Diba: 09128103206

Several Apts in Garden Whole Building in the best location Tower in Elahieh in North of Tehran new, from 150 sq.m to 250 sq.m Apts, 3 Bdrs., garden, spj equipped 2 block, each block 5 Apts totally kitchen, could be fully furn and 10 Apts, 35 rooms lobby, too many new brand lobby, opposite to pkg, best location best view, roof French school, good access to garden outdoor pool Sadr highway Reasonable Price Suitable for Embassy & Companies Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Ms.Diba: 09128103206

Apt. in Fereshteh Indian Restaurant 340 sq.m modern and new apartment, 4 bedrooms, fully furnished, full of lights, full facilities, located in high-rise building Ehsan 0912 4388634 PRIVATE PARKING LOT Tel: (021) 22022920 Fax: (021) 26201855 Jahan Hotel (Exelsior) – Rahimzade Alley – Taleqani www.maskanfereshteh.com [email protected] Crossroads – Valiasr St. Tell: 66476855 Add.: No. 18, Hojjat Bldg., Sharifimanesh Intersection, Fereshteh, Elahieh I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 4, 2018 LIFE 9 Great craft gift ideas for your beloved ones Delicious uses for rose water By Setareh Behroozi offer clothes either made from traditional fabrics or inspired from local dresses in dif- Iran is the land of miscellaneous creative ferent parts of country. You can add a floral, feminine, and unmistakably rosy touch to handicrafts made by artisans in differ- Bag, purse and shoes made of leather and your favorite recipes with just one single ingredient: rose water. ent parts of the country in the forms of traditional fabrics are also available in dif- This all-natural extract is used daily in Middle Eastern cuisine. enamel, tile, metalwork, leatherwork and ferent shapes and colors in different stores. It’s a shame, because this ingredient is easy to find and adds a wood carving. They could be also great choice to make your unique flare to foods both sweet and savory. Not sure how? Here In recent years, artisans have modern- beloved ones happy. are some delicious uses for rose water. ized their pattern and style in different Present Persian charm to their Rose water is essentially the leftover distillate from rose petals fields, which lead to creation of great houses and water—that’s all! Think of it as you would vanilla or almond handicrafts. You have a wide range of options of house- extract, as a concentrated extract that can add a distinctive flavor Let’s art of these unknown hands flow wares in Persian handicrafts, which turns a and aroma to your recipes with just a few drops. It has sweet through life of your beloved friends and house into a home. floral notes and an unmistakably rosy aroma. In other words, family with granting handicrafts to them. You can find great works of ceramic, tile it’s perfectly lovely. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmeni- and glassware in the form of frames, vases Add to ice cream or gelato. Just a few drops of rose water stan, and Germany are the main importers and dishes, which makes the place homely can be all it takes to transform cream and sugar into intoxicat- of Iranian handicrafts and dozens of Ira- and beautiful. ingly aromatic and delightful ice cream. nian handicrafts have been honored with Don’t underestimate the power of tra- Add to milk-based desserts (yogurt, milkshakes, pudding, the UNESCO Seal of Excellence over the ditional fabrics, which can be used as table etc.). Once again, rose water and milk go hand-in-hand. The soft- past three years. clothes, bed sheet and sofa covers. ness of dairy products complements the delicateness of the rose’s Here you can find some ideas for pre- Kilim and Jajim are also great pieces for floral flavor. Any type of dairy-based (or nondairy) dessert can senting Iranian-made handicrafts as gifts. interior decoration. They have reasonable be enhanced with a few drops of rose water in the preparation. Persian style gifts for your be- price and are available in different size and Add to pastries and baked goods. Many Middle Eastern loved ones colors. pastries, such as baklava, use rose water to complement the You can find stylish needlework of Ira- Buying a piece of handicraft as a gift is earthy, nutty flavors of pistachio and almond also commonly nian Baluch women on colorful bracelets a great choice not only for the receiver but used. Epicurious.com has a recipe for Almond Baklava that will and brooches as a gift. it is a kind of support you make from local whet your pastry whistle. You can also find great silver sets of orna- or filaments of silver shape an elaborate precious stones and metalwork engraving markets and a national art. Add to gelatin or agar molds. Have you ever had the clas- ments of Malileh, an ancient Persian metal decorative feature, for a lavish gift. are also great options for gifts. Hence don’t hesitate to make a choice sic jelled dessert, Turkish Delight? The characteristic flavor of art in which fusing and welding tiny strips Silver sets of ornaments made from semi- Several shops and online websites in Iran from this wide stunning collection! this classic Middle Eastern treat—one of my personal favorite candies—is rose water. Make your own version in a jelled dessert, or even agar-based jelled mold. Deep clean a germy cell phone without destroying it! Add to jams, jellies, and compotes. All it takes is one splash of rose water in your fruity jams to add a totally new level of com- In gross and disturbing news, your cell phone is a breeding plexity. Talk about kicking up your bored toast and jelly routine! ground for germs. Think about it, it goes just about everywhere In the blog Completely Delicious, a recipe for strawberry and rose with you, which means there’s plenty of opportunities for water jam will make you want to get cooking in the kitchen stat. exposure to bacteria. In fact, a 2012 study by the University Add to savory vegetable- and fruit-based salads. Rose water of Arizona concluded that your cell phone has more germs can liven up savory dishes like salads, just as it can sweet dishes. than a toilet seat. Bet you’re rethinking holding it anywhere Perky colorful dishes like carrot slaw, citrus salad, or virtually near your face! Before you freak out, here are some smart anything with fruits and nuts in the mix, will be a great comple- tips from Rob Duve, a Best Buy Geek Squad agent, on how ment to rose water. Simply add a splash into your vinaigrette or to keep your phone clean. dressing and whisk away. Here’s an example from NPR.com, Start with good hand hygiene with their recipe for citrus salad with rose water. “One of the first and best lines of defense is to practice good (Source: organicauthority.com) hand hygiene. Always wash your hands with soap and water, because anything that is on your hands will be transferred to your cell phone. Be cautious when using other people’s devices, too,” Duve advises. “If you do have to use someone else’s phone, avoid holding it up to your face.”’ Warm up the bedroom Reconsider where you use your phone You’ll also want to be mindful of where you use your without running the heat phone. Duve explained that more people than you think bring their cell phones into the bathroom (a recent study showed just how many), which exposes them to unneces- sary amounts of germs. Wipe down the surface in favor of germ-killing wipes that are specifically made for Go for a deep clean To keep your phone and other touchscreen devices clean, touchscreen devices. You’ll also want to use a microfiber Doing a deep clean? A foam swab should be used instead you’ll want to regularly wipe them down. “Use your own cloth, which is surface safe, instead of paper towels. If you of q-tips to get into those tiny crevices. With flu season judgment based on your environment, but even deciding have a spray cleaner, don’t spray it directly on the screen. warnings already circulating, pay close attention to your to wipe them down once a day isn’t too much,” says Duve. Spray it onto the cloth first, and then wipe down your phone.” devices this winter. Being vigilant about cleaning them could “You’ll want to avoid using household cleaners or rubbing Because microfiber is able to remove bacteria from a surface, mean you’ll end up catching fewer colds and stomach bugs. alcohol like some people recommend (it can ruin the finish) you can also play it safe by skipping the sprays altogether. (Source: Real Simple) Colorful Iran: Atashuni ritual in How to prep your kitchen for Khorasan houseguests?

It’s that time of year again… Old Man Winter is nipping at your nose, chilling down your toes and – perhaps most distressing of all – driving up your utility expenses with the increased use of your indoor heating system. But wait: instead of automatically reaching for the thermostat dial, consider alternatives to heating the entire house at night. After all, the only room in use is the bedroom, so stay snug, lower your utility costs, and reduce your energy consumption with these easy ideas. Check for drafts If your bedroom windows (or any other windows in your home, for that matter) have gaps or leaks, your warm inside air is leaking away to the outside, leaving you chilly and wasting your hard-earned money. Each season, check all windows and doors that open to the outside. You can use a draft detector, or simply LIFEIn the past, people fire and used its coal for their korsi - a A self-service buffet keeps you from playing with toppings like hempseed, nuts, honey, desk a burning stick of incense to check for unwanted air movement. who lived in Khorasan four-legged table with a heater under- short-order cook. For breakfast, make and and chopped fruit. Finish with a coffee and Fix those gaps and your room will stay warmer. It’s not difficult to Razavi province, northeastern Iran, per- neath it - and blankets and comforters freeze waffles a day or two before guests tea area stocked with mugs, spoons, a milk caulk or plug leaks around windows and doors, and the benefits formed Atashuni ritual during cold nights thrown around it. arrive; in the morning, heat in a 200-degree frother, and sweeteners. Come lunchtime, are twofold: you’ll cut down on energy waste and you’ll prevent of winter. Various tribes and ethnic groups who oven and serve with fresh berries, choco- a sandwich bar is a crowd-pleaser. And for bugs from sneaking inside. They chatted to each other, they also live in different parts of Iran are just late chips, pomegranate seeds, whipped off-hours nibbling, a basket in the pantry Use warmer bedding recited classic poems and Shahnameh to- like colors, which make a great paint- cream, and syrup. or fridge labeled “Eat me” takes the guess- It’s the obvious solution; when nature turns the thermostat gether. Elder people narrated stories and ing. Iran is home to about 20 ethnic “Kids can have fun making an edible work out of what’s fair game to munch on down, it’s time to turn up the heat on your bed. Just as with fables for the attendees. groups who live in different regions art project,” says Catherine McCord of during the day. clothing, layers of bedding keep you warmer, so swap out those After it ended, they extinguished the of the country. Weelicious.com. Or try a yogurt station (Source: Real Simple) percale or sateen sheets for flannel, and top them with a warm blanket and a down-filled (or down-substitute) comforter. You can also go extra-warm with an electric blanket, but keep your plugged-in bedding on top, not layered underneath a com- 101 ITEMS FOR #IRANIANLIFESTYLE forter or duvet (and remember that electric blankets are only for the master bedroom, not for a child’s room and definitely YOUR BUCKET LIST! not for the nursery). If you really get cold, consider an electric mattress pad, which #21. Pursue your passion warms up your whole bed from underneath the sheets. Honestly, life is too short to be spent doing something Reverse the ceiling fan you don’t love. Ceiling fans are a great way to reduce energy usage any time What is your passion? Is it to be an artist? To sing and A nomad girl from of year. In the summer, the counterclockwise rotation creates a perform? To be a life coach? To travel? To help other people Qashqaei tribe cooling breeze that’s a treat on muggy, hot nights. But once the to grow (same as my passion)? To be the best that you can wearing headscarf winter months roll around, it’s time to reverse your fan’s rota- be? How can you start pursuing it? embellished with tion to clockwise (most ceiling fans have a switch on the fan’s Some people pursue their passion part time while some ornaments base that sets the rotational direction). Now the fan’s blades make it their careers (or even turn their passion into a busi- will pull warmer air from the ceiling, and push it lower into the ness). Contrary to common belief that pursuing your passion Photo by room – right where you need it. is at odds with being rich, you can pursue your passion and Try a space heater be financially abundant. I’m an example of this. Mohammad Babaei (Instagram/ While sleep experts agree that 65 degrees Fahrenheit is the Here we share 101 items to consider for your bucket list. ideal temperature for sound sleep, if your bedroom dips much mustseeiran) Look through the list — any item that resonates with you? below that, you can warm things up a bit without turning on the Take the items that resonate with you and use them for your central heat by using a space heater. When choosing a portable own list! heater, look for one suitably sized for your room, and place it (Source: personalexcellence.co) far enough from the bed so that there is no chance of bedding coming in contact with the device. (Source: thespruce.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM JANUARY 4, 2018

Initiative to support artisans ‘Virtual tour of Qazvin province operators’ HERITAGE TEHRAN — A new initiative will offer eligible deskartisans to set up their own workshops and mar- ket stalls at historical and touristic places across Qazvin province. to get off the ground 1 Mounesan who also doubles as vice president did not elaborate on mechanism and the amount of money that the initiative will offer to ‘virtual tour operators’ for luring inbound travelers. Iran is a hot travel destination in terms of its rich history, picturesque sceneries, traditions, cuisine and hospitable people. An exterior view of the Qazvin Jameh Mosque The country’s ultimate goal is to attract 20 million The scheme, devised by Qazvin province’s cultural heritage foreign tourists annually by 2025. However, with only department general, pursues an objective of empowering crafts- eight years to go, according to some experts, the target people and promoting their skills which have been handed down seems to be somewhat unachievable. Foreign nationals look at the blue-tiled mosaics of Imam Mosque, a Safavid-era monument in Isfahan, central Iran. from generation to generation, Mehr reported on Tuesday. A top tourist destination, Qazvin, the capital city of the province, is filled with centuries-old mosques, caravansaries, madrasas, pubic bathhouses and bazaars amongst others. It was used to be the capital of the Persian Empire under Safavids from 1548 to 1598. Campaign for proper handicrafts packaging unveiled HERITAGE TEHRAN – Isfahan’s about Persian handicrafts, which neither deskcultural heritage chief enjoy appropriate packaging nor branding. NEWS IN BRIEF on Tuesday called for a new look towards “We believe that if we want to have a presenting handicrafts to foreign travelers strong presence in the global markets, we Ahvaz to host as he initiated a campaign for designing should identify the needs of tourists and even elegant packs for handmade products. their nature of travels,” the official added. specialized “We should cater for the tastes of abun- Highlighting main principals of the dant international travelers who come to suitcase trade, he added “The necessity handicrafts visit Isfahan,” Fereydoun Allahyari said of designing a suitable and easily-portable exhibit in an address to artisans and packaging packages, proportionate to the value of ar- companies. tistic products, is now felt more than ever.” HERITAGE TEHRAN – The city of Ahvaz, southwest- “Today, Isfahan is a top destination for Profusion of tree-lined boulevards, Handicrafts exports from Iran hit a deskern Khuzestan province, will play host to a inbound travelers. So, we need to recognize abundant Persian gardens and important record high over the first four months of specialized handicrafts exhibit in February. their interests and tastes more than ever Islamic buildings give Isfahan an unmatched the current Iranian calendar year (March Over 120 artisans from all over the country will promote in the arena of cultural tourism.” visual appeal while its ubiquitous artisans 21-July 22, 2017) with 45.4 percent growth their expertise during the one-week event, which starts on Over the past couple of years, several underpin its reputation as a living museum in contrast to the same period a year earlier, February 22, Mehr reported on Monday. officials, experts and artisans had warned of traditional culture. the organization announced in September. The purpose of the event is to tap a market for craftsmen of various fields and help people to become more familiar with the artistic professions, said Gholamreza Jalilinia who presides Airline safety: 2017 was safest year in history for passengers around world, research shows over Khuzestan province’s cultural heritage department. In a year when more people flew to more including the patient. part, these very positive figures rest on good passenger luggage.” Over the past couple of years, dozens of high-quality Ira- places than ever, 2017 was the safest on In November, a Czech-built Let 410 fortune. Nevertheless, the safety level that In 2016, 271 people lost their lives in nian handicrafts have been honored with the UNESCO Seal record for airline passengers. belonging to Khabarovsk Avia crashed on civil aviation has achieved is remarkable”. seven fatal events. They included the crash of Excellence. The Dutch-based aviation consultancy, landing at Nelkan in the Russian Far East He cautioned: “The risks to civil aviation of an Egyptair flight from Paris to Cairo To70, has released its Civil Aviation Safety with the loss of six lives. A four-year-old remain high as shown by the seriousness which killed 66, and a LaMia jet carrying the Iran’s heritage Review for 2017. It reports only two fatal girl was the only survivor. of some of the non-fatal accidents.” They Brazilian football team Chapecoense which accidents, both involving small turbo-prop A much higher death toll occurred in included, he said, “the spectacular loss of the ran out of fuel in Colombia and crashed with museums host aircraft, with a total of 13 lives lost. Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, when inlet fan and cowling of an engine on an Air the loss of 71 lives. No jets crashed in passenger service a Turkish Boeing 747 freighter belonging France A380” over Greenland in September. The death toll in the two previous years 1 million more anywhere in the world. to ACT AIrlines overshot the runway and “That the airplane continued to operate was significantly higher. In 2015, 471 peo- visitors The two crashes which occurred on New ended up in a village close to the airport, safely to a diversion airport and was then ple died in four crashes; they included a Year’s Eve – a seaplane in Sydney which killed killing 35 on the ground as well as four crew. flown home for repair on three engines says Metrojet flight from Sharm el Sheikh to St HERITAGE TEHRAN — Heritage museums across Iran six, and a Cessna Caravan which crashed In addition, jet blast killed a tourist stand- a lot about the robustness of the airplane.” Petersburg, Russia, which killed 224, and a deskattracted one million more visitors over the in Costa Rica, killing all 12 on board – are ing close to the runway on the Caribbean The report warns that electronic devices Germanwings Airbus A320 from Barcelona first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started not included in the tally, since both aircraft island of St Maarten. in checked-in bags pose a growing potential to Dusseldorf whose first officer, Andreas on March 21, 2017) in comparison to the same period last year. weighed under 5,700kg - the threshold for The chances of a plane being involved danger: “The increasing use of lithium-ion Lubitz, killed 150 on board by deliberately “Over 13.5 million have visited museums that are affiliated the report. in a fatal accident is now one in 16 million, batteries in electronics creates a fire risk on crashing into the French Alps, with the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organi- The first fatal accident included in the according to the lead researcher, Adrian board airplanes as such batteries are difficult In 2014, 864 people died in five crashes, zation during the current year,” IRIB quoted Mohammad Reza report was in October: an Embraer Brasilia Young. to extinguish if they catch fire. including the losses of two Malaysia Airlines Kargar, director of CHHTO’s Museums and Historical Moveable operating as an air ambulance in Angola. But Mr Young, senior aviation consultant “Airlines worldwide are training their 777s: MH370, whose fate is still unknown, Properties Office, as saying on Monday. The pilots lost control after reportedly suf- for To70, told The Independent: “It is unlikely crews to fight any fires in the cabin; the and MH17, downed by a missile over eastern Sadabad Cultural-Historical Complex in Tehran and Persep- fering an engine failure, seven people died, that this historic low will be maintained; in challenge is keeping such batteries out of Ukraine. (Source: Independent) olis in Fars province were among the most popular sites during the mentioned period, he added. 6 ways travel changed in 2017 ROUND THE GLOBE that travelers referenced “detoxing” more than twice as By Nikki Ekstein often in 2017 as in 2016. Grimeton Radio Station A lot can happen in a year but 2017 was particularly eventful New airport rules made for new headaches when it came to how we travel the world. The threats that Nationalist fervor in places as disparate as the U.S., Great Britain and Germany made closed borders one of The Varberg Radio Station at Grimeton in southern Sweden is loomed largest in 2016, Zika and the migrant crisis, faded the year’s most commonly recurring themes -alarming an exceptionally well-preserved monument to early wireless into the rear-view mirror as talk of a United States travel to travelers who live by the credo of a borderless world. transatlantic communication. ban and Brexit suddenly dominated global headlines. And It manifested itself most prominently in President Don- A UNESCO World Heritage, it consists of the transmitter that was just the beginning. Here are six significant ways ald Trump’s infamous travel ban, now officially in effect, equipment, including the aerial system of six 127-m high steel the world changed for globetrotters in the last 12 months. barring visitors from eight countries (including six with towers. Mother Nature rewrote the travel map Three hurricanes of extraordinary strength crashed into mostly-Muslim populations). Texas, Florida, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico; the effects You didn’t need to be from those places to feel the cas- of Harvey, Irma, and Maria continue in nearly every place cading effects of “enhanced security and screening.” In that they were felt. Parts of the Caribbean have been written airports around the world, additional safety measures in- off the tourist map until at least late 2018, including St. cluded banning laptops on flights and pat-downs at the gate. Barth (the island’s villas are back online, but hotels will Recently, airlines started cracking down on smart luggage need the year to rebuild) and the U.S. Virgin Islands; the the retired set, you’ve been living under a rock (far from with battery packs. With Europe voting to end visa-free travel British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are showing slightly the beach). This year, cruise companies made a concerted in March-and Trump responding with new rules for inbound quicker signs of recovery. effort to attract younger travelers, with expedition-class tourists earlier this month-the narrative is still unfolding. Almost simultaneously with the storms, wildfires swept the ships sailing to uncharted Arctic territories and facilitating The effects of over-tourism were felt around West Coast in two bursts, one across California and another high-octane thrills around the world. the world in the greater Los Angeles area. The natural disasters have For some companies, that meant offering bike tours of A word that should have been added to the dictionary set travelers on hunts for new places to cure their winter classic European destinations; for others, it meant open-water this year: “Overtourism.” In destinations from Venice to doldrums: Trending warm-weather alternatives include New kayaking off the coast of Alaska. It’s not just about adven- Peru, local governments confronted the fact that while Zealand, Bermuda, and Mexico’s Los Cabos. But remember ture, either: Cruise ships became more innovative in their tourism is an important economic engine, too much of it that trips to recovering areas provide much-needed tourism dining and entertainment concepts, swapping tired revue becomes destructive. An interior view of the Grimeton radio station, a World dollars that are crucial to restoration efforts. shows for original, sometimes interactive productions. The In Ibiza, the unthinkable happened: The municipality Heritage in Sweden Airlines stooped to new lows-and hit new highs trend will continue in 2018, with a push for cutting-edge of San Jose banned DJs from 16 beach clubs and started Located on the Swedish west coast, it lies within the “great Travelers in the back of the plane were subject to several technological advancements coming to most major lines. regulating the number of hotels and Airbnb listings available circle” – an area without obstacles to radio waves – that is centered new kinds of torture in 2017. Passengers got physically Unplugging took on new importance at any given time, moving away from the island’s up-all- on New York, the hub of the transatlantic transmitting system. assaulted or dragged off planes in a series of nightmarish With the volume of breaking news reaching what felt night reputation. The station property consists of the transmitter equipment, incidents that catapulted “airline spokesperson” to one like an all-time high, travelers looked to get far, far away In Dubrovnik, Croatia, legislation capped visitors to including the aerial system with six enormous steel towers each of the most unenviable jobs of the year. It wasn’t just the from it all in 2017. The destinations on travel agents’ lips the medieval walled city at 4,000 per day. And in Peru, 127 meters high, buildings housing the original Alexanderson inhumane in-flight brawls that raised eyebrows: In July, earned stood out for their seclusion-Antarctica, the Mal- long-rumored limits on daily entries to Machu Picchu finally transmitter, and short-wave transmitters with their antennae, United Airines announced plans to resell fliers’ seats to dives-and unplugged experiences in the great outdoors took off in a play to protect the historic site from the effects as well as a residential area with staff housing. other people for more money. (Nepal, South Africa). of excessive foot traffic. All this is good news, and not just The station’s main buildings, built in the neoclassical style, In September, Jet Blue Airways decided to shrink its Mental well-being and holistic wellness took precedence for destinations at risk of being ruined. It means that in were designed by architect Carl Akerblad, and the antenna seats after years of prioritizing a customer-first philosophy. over massages or facials, with companies from Four Sea- these fragile places, tourism will develop with a closer eye towers – the tallest constructions in Sweden at that time – were And last month, British Airways announced a new policy sons Hotels to Seabourn Cruise Line launching programs on sustainability-and some overlooked places will get the designed by structural engineer Professor Henrik Kreuger. whereby those who pay the least for their tickets also get on mindfulness and meditation. In fact, the social media turn in the spotlight they’ve always deserved. Although the station is no longer in regular use, its equipment to board last. All this, while Qatar Airways and Emirates analysts at Local Measure, a consumer insights firm, say (Source: Chicago Tribune) is maintained in operating condition. This property is an out- Airline defied luxury aviation standards with their upgraded standing illustration of the development of telecommunications. premium cabin configurations that look less like leather Travelers in the back of the plane were subject to It is unique, being the only surviving example of a major seats and more like someone’s living room. It adds up to transmitting station based on pre-electronic technology, and a wider-than-ever class disparity in the skies that’s only several new kinds of torture in 2017. Passengers got stands as a testimony to the earliest part of a new era of com- going to become more pronounced. physically assaulted or dragged off planes in a series of munications. (Source: UNESCO) Cruising grew up (and got younger) If you think of oceangoing ships as a gathering place for nightmarish incidents. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 4, 2018 SCI/MED 11

A scientific evidence for a colic Obsession with perfection rises by more than a third

The obsession with perfection amongst young people has risen by treatment that actually works more 30 percent over the last three decades, a study has found. They are also 33 percent more likely to believe that their en- Each year, hundreds of thousands of babies MCRI pediatrician Valerie Sung, who also vironment is excessively demanding and that others judge them and their concerned families suffer from colic led the Australian clinical trial incorporated harshly, according to analysis of data from more than 40,000 - a condition diagnosed simply by intense in the meta-analysis. British, Canadian and American university students from 1989 bouts of excessive crying that last for hours. Breastfeeding babies to 2017. The cause remains unknown, and despite Because of that limitation, the researchers The research, carried out by the University of Bath and York several treatment options on the market, are stopping short of considering the probiotic St John University, found that the extent to which young people there’s very little scientific evidence that any an automatic cure for infant colic – although attach an irrational importance on being perfect, hold unreal- of them can actually provide relief. it’s a promising avenue of treatment for istic expectations of themselves and are highly self-critical has Now a team of scientists suggest there is families who breastfeed their baby. increased by 10 percent when compared to previous generations. something that can help - a new study provides “Parents who are worried about their baby’s The authors suggested their findings point to the impact of the most comprehensive evidence yet that a crying should still see a doctor to check that three decades of neoliberalism forcing young people to compete probiotic called Lactobacillus reuteri, which there is no underlying medical cause for their against one another. is already sold as relief for babies with colic, baby’s crying,” Sung told ScienceAlert. Lead author Dr. Thomas Curran from the University of Bath’s is actually an effective treatment. “If parents are still keen to try something Department for Health said he hoped organizations responsible The new finding is based on a review of for their baby, then this probiotic is the best for safeguarding the welfare of young people, such as schools and four separate clinical trials involving 345 option for those who are breastfed. universities, and policymakers who shape the environments in infants with colic in total, and this big picture While the data we have at present can’t which these organizations operate, would “resist the promotion view indicates that, for breastfed babies at exclusively breastfed infants in the study lack of data on formula-fed infants in the tell us anything more about the prospects of competitiveness at the expense of young people’s psycholog- least, L. reuteri can work. who received the probiotic were twice as study, since only one of the four clinical trials for using L. reuteri for formula-fed infants, ical health”. Babies with colic likely to reduce their crying by 50 percent included formula-fed infants in addition to for many parents who breastfeed, any He said: “Rising rates of perfectionism highlighted in this The trials, conducted in Italy, Poland, after three weeks of treatment. breastfed babies. confirmation of a working treatment that study coincide with three decades of neoliberalism, which has Canada, and Australia, looked at how effective As for formula-fed babies, the results “We did find evidence that L. reuteri is may help reduce the frequent, intense bouts compelled young people to compete against each other within L. reuteri was at reducing crying in babies aren’t so certain – primarily because of a effective in breastfed babies with colic,” says of unexplained crying their babies go through increasingly demanding social and economic parameters.” with colic. will be a huge relief. The study also found the extent to which young people impose While they all drew different conclusions New finding is based on a review of four Because of the lack of scientific evidence unrealistic standards on those around them and evaluate others about its effectiveness, the new review of the out there, new parents with colicky babies critically has increased by 16 per cent. raw data from the trials – called an individual separate clinical trials involving 345 infants have been left to try out often expensive The researches defined perfectionism as a combination of ex- participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA) – with colic in total, and this big picture view treatments without guidance, and there’s cessively high personal standards and overly harsh self-criticism, suggests the probiotic is effective for babies indicates that, for breastfed babies at least, no standard advice from doctors on how to which they say can lead to psychological difficulties. with colic who are exclusively breastfed. make their babies feel better. (Source: The Telegraph) Compared to babies taking a placebo, L. reuteri can work. (Source: sciencealert.com) High Vitamin D dose may Diabetes drug reverses Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice: new study rapidly cut arterial stiffness Promising new animal research suggests a and damage the animal’s brain. Once given has a “clear promise of being developed of Alzheimer’s patients are shown to display High-doses of Vitamin D can potentially reduce arterial stiff- drug originally developed to treat diabetes the drug, the animals were then made to into a new treatment for chronic neurode- growth impairment, a statement on the ness — a major risk factor for cardiovascular-related disease and significantly reverses memory loss and brain conduct a maze test designed to measure generative disorders such as Alzheimer’s study reported. This impairment causes death — in young vitamin-deficient obese adults, researchers say. degeneration in mice with a rodent version their memory. disease,” lead study researcher Christian brain nerve cells to slowly lose function, Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, of Alzheimer’s disease. If the same is proven Alzheimer’s disease Holscher of Lancaster University said in eventually leading to some of the hallmark with an estimated 17.7 million deaths in 2015, and representing true in humans, the drug could one day be Results revealed that after being given a statement on Sunday. This is especially symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. 31 percent of all global deaths. used as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease the drug, aged mice who already had signs exciting, as it has been 15 years since a However, in the mice in the study, the and other memory-related illnesses. of a rodent version of Alzheimer’s disease new Alzheimer’s drug has hit the market. diabetes drug prevented and even reversed In the study, published online this week showed improved learning and memory The drug is called a triple receptor drug this brain growth impairment. in Brain Research, scientists from Lancaster skills. The results were also seen on a biolog- and according to the study, combines GLP-1, The link between diabetes and Alzheim- University in England used lab mice to test ical level, and these mice displayed reduced GIP and Glucagon, three biological mole- er’s is not as strange as you may think. how effective a diabetes drug known as a amounts of plaque buildup in the brain, cules known as “growth factors.” Growth Insulin, the hormone that diabetes patients triple receptor was in treating Alzheimer’s a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. factors are simply natural substances, have trouble regulating, is actually a type of disease. The mice in the study were specifically In addition, these mice also had re- usually a hormone or steroid, that help growth factor. This is why a triple receptor created to express certain genes associated duced levels of chronic inflammation in to induce growth. drug was originally designed to treat diabe- with Alzheimer’s disease in humans. their brains, overall slower rates of brain Growth factors tes. In addition, diabetes patients are more The researchers waited for the mice to nerve cell loss and increased brain nerve The growth factors in this drug spe- likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, the age before giving them the drug, therefore cell protection. cifically affected growth in the animals’ Alzheimer’s Association reported. giving their disease some time to develop The results suggest that the diabetes drug brains, and this is significant as the brains (Source: Newsweek) Rigid artery walls and Vitamin D deficiency might be the potential contributors, said Yanbin Dong, geneticist and cardi- ologist at the Augusta University, U.S. Study predicts a significantly Gravity waves behind Jupiter’s The findings showed that the dose of 4,000 international units (IUs)– more than six times the daily 600 IUs currently drier world at 2ºC weird switching jet stream recommended for most adults and children — now considered the highest, reduced arterial stiffness the most and the fastest, 10.4 percent in four months. “When your arteries are stiffer, you have higher pulse wave velocity, which increases your risk of cardiometabolic disease in the future,” said Anas Raed, research resident at the varsity. For the study, detailed in the journal PLOS ONE, the team looked at African-Americans aged 13-45 — all of whom had some degree of arterial stiffness — taking varying doses of the vitamin best known for its role in bone health. While just how Vitamin D is good for our arteries is not com- pletely understood, it appears to impact blood vessel health in many ways, the researchers said. Laboratory studies have shown that mice missing a vitamin D receptor have higher activation of the renin-angiotensin-al- dosterone system, activation of which increases blood vessel constriction that can contribute to arterial stiffness. Vitamin D also can suppress vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, activation of garbage-eating macrophages and calcification formation, all of which can thicken blood vessel Over a quarter of the world’s land could year-to-year variability can cause more The mystery of Jupiter’s strangely switch- probe thin vertical slices of Jupiter’s at- walls and hinder flexibility. become significantly drier if global severe drought. For instance, in such a ing jet stream may have just been solved. mosphere,” study co-author Amy Simon, Vitamin D also reduces inflammation, an underlying mech- warming reaches 2C - according to new scenario 15 percent of semi-arid regions Gravity waves are likely causing Ju- also a scientist at NASA Goddard, said in anism for the obesity-related development of coronary artery research from an international team would actually experience conditions piter’s jet stream to change direction, a the same statement. “Previous data sets disease, Raed said. (Source: The Indian Express) including the University of East Anglia. similar to ‘arid’ climates today.” new study suggests. The new results could had lower resolution, so the signals were The change would cause an increased Dr. Manoj Joshi from UEA’s School reveal information not just about clouds essentially smeared out over a large section threat of drought and wildfires. of Environmental Sciences said: “Our in the atmospheres of planets in our own of the atmosphere.” But limiting global warming to research predicts that aridification solar system, but also about those mov- After comparing the new data with Supermassive black holes under 1.5C would dramatically reduce would emerge over about 20-30 ing above the surfaces of alien worlds, simulations, the team concluded that eventually suck the life the fraction of the Earth’s surface that percent of the world’s land surface by researchers said. gravity waves are likely the driving force undergoes such changes. the time the global mean temperature “Jupiter is much bigger than Earth, behind QQO. Gravity waves occur in air out of big galaxies The findings, published on January 1 change reaches 2C. But two thirds of the much farther from the sun, rotates much or liquid, and are caused by gravity or in Nature Climate Change, are the result affected regions could avoid significant faster and has a very different composi- buoyancy acting to restore equilibrium; At the core of each large galaxy lies a supermassive black hole of an international collaboration led aridification if warming is limited to tion, but it turns out to be an excellent wind-driven waves at the ocean’s surface with the mass of 1 million suns. New research shows that these by the Southern University of Science 1.5C.” laboratory for understanding this equa- are a prominent example. They’re very celestial vacuum cleaners do more than just devour nearby objects and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen Greenhouse gas emissions torial phenomenon,” study lead author different than the ripples in space-time — they also grow to a size that eventually suppresses a galaxy’s China and UEA. Dr. Su-Jong Jeong from SusTech Rick Cosentino, a postdoctoral fellow at known as gravitational waves. ability to churn out new stars, effectively rendering them sterile. Aridity is a measure of the said: The “world has already warmed NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Gravity waves Young galaxies are absolutely bursting with bright, newly dryness of the land surface, obtained by 1C. But by reducing greenhouse Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a statement. On Jupiter, gravity waves produced by formed stars. As time passes, however, star formation even- from combining precipitation and gas emissions into the atmosphere in Jupiter’s equator convection low in the atmosphere likely tually grinds to a halt. A new study published in Nature shows evaporation. The research team studied order to keep global warming under About every four Earth years, the east- cause the QQO as they rise into the strat- that supermassive black holes play a critical role in determining projections from 27 global climate 1.5C or 2C could reduce the likelihood west jet stream flowing high over Jupiter’s osphere, the researchers said. when large galaxies stop producing new stars, a process known models to identify the areas of the of significant aridification emerging in equator switches direction — a mysterious A cylindrical projection of Jupiter’s as “quenching.” world where aridity will substantially many parts of the world.” phenomenon called the quasi-quadrennial surface from the “Journey to Jupiter” pro- Stars form out of cold gas, so when a galaxy runs out of cold change when compared to the year-to- Drought severity has been increasing oscillation (QQO). The QQO resembles a ject led by Peter Rosén in Stockholm. The gas it’s effectively quenched. One possible way this could hap- year variations they experience now, across the Mediterranean, southern process seen both on Earth and Saturn, pearl-shaped storms in Jupiter’s southern pen — at least for galaxies with supermassive black holes — is as global warming reaches 1.5C and 2C Africa, and the eastern coast of Australia which occurs every 28 Earth months and hemisphere are located at approximately that the gas that pours onto a supermassive black hole triggers above pre-industrial levels. over the course of the 20th Century, every 15 Earth years, respectively, study 40 degrees south latitude. the production of high-energy jets. The energy released by these Aridification a serious threat while semi-arid areas of Mexico, Brazil, team members said. “Our model could be applied to study jets can expel cold gas out of the galaxy, causing star formation Dr. Chang-Eui Park from SusTech, southern Africa and Australia have For the first time ever, researchers ana- the effects of these mechanisms in oth- to shut down. one of the authors of the study, said: encountered desertification for some lyzed detailed observations of the full QQO er planets of the solar system and in At least that’s the theory. This idea has been around for quite “Aridification is a serious threat time as the world has warmed. process, made over the course of five years exoplanets,” study co-author Raúl Mo- some time, but no observational evidence existed to support because it can critically impact areas Professor Tim Osborn from UEA with NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility rales-Juberías, an associate professor the alleged correlation between supermassive black holes and such as agriculture, water quality, and said: The “areas of the world which (IRTF) in Hawaii. The new measurements at the New Mexico Institute of Mining star formation. biodiversity. It can also lead to more would most benefit from keeping — which spanned latitudes from about and Technology in Socorro, said in the Using data collected by the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Massive droughts and wildfires - similar to those warming below 1.5C are parts of South 40 degrees north to 40 degrees south of same statement. “Despite the many dif- Galaxy Survey, Martín-Navarro’s team analyzed the spectra of seen raging across California. East Asia, Southern Europe, Southern Jupiter’s equator — were made possible ferences between Earth and Jupiter, the light coming from distant galaxies. This allowed them to separate “Another way of thinking of the Africa, Central America and Southern by an instrument called the Texas Cross coupling mechanisms between the lower and measure the varying wavelengths of light coming from these emergence of aridification is a shift Australia - where more than 20 percent Echelle Spectrograph, which the study and upper atmospheres in both planets distant objects. The scientists used this data to create a historical to continuous moderate drought of the world’s population live today.” team mounted on the IRTF. are similar and have similar effects.” snapshot of a galaxy’s star formation history. conditions, on top of which future (Source: eurekalert.org) “These measurements were able to (Source: space.com) (Source: Gizmodo) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY JANUARY 4, 2018 E-government promotes empowerment Cheetah cub saved from smugglers cannot return to wild and inclusion in society ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Asiatic cheetah that was saved desk from an animal-trafficking gang in Tehran on 1 As per the report some lower mid- operational e-government. December 26, 2017, cannot return to the wild at least for now, dle-income countries namely Georgia, Re- Next, Jalali said, the highest ranking Iman Memarian, the chief veterinarian of Pardisan Rehabilita- public of Moldova, the Philippines, Seri officials should be utterly determined to tion Center said. Lanka, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Armenia, implement e-government in the country. Parted from her family since she was 4 months old, the chee- Viet Nam, and Paraguay are ranked above And lastly, he concluded, the govern- tah cub named Iran, has not received the required trainings for Iran which is categorized as an upper-mid- ment should allocate budget for executing hunting, said Memarian, adding, female cheetahs take care of dle income country and they even made such plans. their cubs until they turn 18 months. considerable progress compared to their Implementation of SDGs 2010 ranks. The 2016 UN E-Government Survey For one, among the aforementioned provides new evidence that e-government nations Morocco have had a great rank has the potential to help support the im- change from 126 in 2010 to 85 in 2016. plementation of the 2030 Agenda and its On the other hand, the Islamic Republic 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). of Iran has had a minus four rank change To realize the full potential impact of compared to the year 2010. e-government for sustainable develop- The data which is available from the year ment, the report found that it needs to 2003 indicates that Iran has had its ups be accompanied by measures to ensure and downs and ranked 98 (its highest ever access and availability of ICT and make rank over the aforesaid period) in 2005. public institutions more accountable and Keeping pace with the world? more responsive to people’s needs. It con- In order to forge ahead, Ali Akbar Jala- cluded that it is essential to ensure that the li, a professor at the school of electrical overarching objective of poverty eradica- engineering, Iran University of Science tion and “Leaving No One Behind”, a key and Technology (IUST), says Iran need principle of the 2030 Agenda, are at the to take 5 steps. 2016 E-Government Development Index provided by the UN; the greener a country core of efforts to mobilize ICT to realize the “I believe If we release her back to the wild, she will die,” YJC Known as Iran’s father of ICT, Jalali is the more advanced they are in implementing e-government transformation the 2030 Agenda demands. quoted him as saying on Wednesday. explained that firstly the government should chances of using e-government services ucational entities should lay the ground for Although the vulnerability to cyber-attacks The veterinarian of Pardisan Wildlife Rehabilitation Center develop the necessary infrastructure for would surge and this entails infrastruc- educating skillful specialist in the field as well is one of the key disadvantages of e-govern- went on to say that due to inappropriate conditions and 4 months all to have easily access to e-government ture improvement, Jalali who is also a as setting up schemes for training the public ment, considering its advantages and the fact of captivity, Iran, the Asiatic cheetah cub, is not comfortable in services. visiting professor at the University of for better grasp of e-government services. that the whole world are taking huge steps her new environment and is experiencing high stress, although In line with that setting up internet kiosk Maryland, stated. Thirdly, the adjunct professor in the in furtherance of the field the whole idea of the stress level has reduced compared to 10 days ago. in underprivileged rural regions and also Secondly, governmental originations Lane Department of Computer Science taking measures to improve the country’s Based on her age, Iran was suffering from malnutrition when offices providing e-services in urban areas should recruit experts active in this field to and Electrical Engineering at the West current status is one of the wisest thing as discovered but she eats properly and is in good condition overall, should be on agenda. switch from traditional systems to digital Virginia University said, legislative bodies e-government is a powerful tool to imple- he noted. As the number of users increase the ones, Jalali highlighted, adding, also the ed- should adopt new laws concerning a fully ment global sustainability goals. The Asiatic, or Iranian, Cheetah is a critically endangered species living in the in the eastern-central arid regions of Iran. Some 760,000 foreign nationals acquired literacy in Iran in 33 years SOCIETY TEHRAN — As per a special literacy munities to teach illiterate ones. Till now, some 3,500 Making paper from stone deskprogram developed for foreign nation- nomad women and 1,500 rural women have achieved als in Iran some 759,625 refugees have attended literacy literacy under this scheme. projected courses over the past 33 years, the director of the Literacy Elsewhere in his remarks Baqerzadeh mentioned another Movement Organization (LMO) said. literacy program which is being implemented in prisons, SOCIETY TEHRAN — Iran Stone Association is planning The literacy program aims to develop literacy among stating, “The program aims to provide basic literacy and deskto carry out a project to manufacture paper foreign nationals (with the priority of Afghan refugees essential life skills for prisoners ranging from 10 to 60 years from stone waste, ISNA quoted the secretary of Iran Stone As- who outnumber other foreign nationals in the country) old.” More than 86,000 prisoners have attended literacy sociation as saying on Wednesday. to improve the literacy rate, promote Islamic culture and courses during past 6 years, he added. If carried out, the project empower refugees, ISNA quoted Ali Baqerzadeh as saying Identifying and educating illiterate soldiers is another will lead to opening a factory on Wednesday. campaign that is being pursued by LMO and armed forces, with the annual capacity of pro- He went on to say that with the cooperation and support he highlighted, adding, some 2,900 soldiers have received ducing 50,000 to 100,000 tons of international bodies including United Nations High the required education to date. of stone paper, Ahmad Sharifi Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), LMO has the Improved literacy can contribute to economic growth, highlighted. “A portion of the capacity to register more than 22,784 foreign nationals reduce poverty and crime, promote democracy, prevent domestic demand for paper for literacy courses annually. HIV and other diseases through information provision, can be satisfied accordingly,” Talking about other measures that have been taken to program for nomads. Started in 2015-2016, the program and confer personal benefits such as increased self-esteem, he added. promote literacy in the country, he referred to a literacy makes use of 1,000 literate individuals in those com- confidence and empowerment. Sharifi went on to say that opening a factory with the pro- duction capacity of 50,000 tons Telegram, political activism and elite absenteeism of stone paper requires $30 feedback in the absence of any supervisory political activism and political participation information does not become knowledge. million investment. By Sajjad Farokhipour or regulatory intermediary journalistic circle which is around a special benefit or a specific As a results audience falls into mistake in Since the total cost of pro- Making an effort to adapt itself to media is a threatening aspect of such a media, condition. In other words, such an activism recognizing problem and limitations and ducing paper from stone waste ecology, social media is interpretation of a feedback which is outside the reach of is an instrumental action toward a specific the way they are related to the decision is 25 percent lower than that of extended human minds in from of infor- any system and mechanism because every issue rather than a grounded participation they have made. Compared with traditional wood and also, because stone papers maintains higher quality, the mation in the age of electronics, one in single member of these media can give, which is guided by an elite movement which media, social media is a more viable tool for economic justification of the project is guaranteed, he concluded. which natural attributes of any society such receive and judge feedback individually. aims at obtaining synergy for fundamental spreading cognitive miser in the audience, as freedom, culture and independence is Such a condition lays the groundwork for changes. Although political activism and one for which they are not blamed. How- LEARN ENGLISH open to a new and different definition. In legitimizing illegitimate and false currents. consensus through social media is fast ever, traditional media always shoulder such ecology, technology is neither evenly However, in traditional Journalism dis- and low-priced, it direly feels the wants the blame for censorship policies. distributed nor exploited. Thus, social media semination of information is controlled of political awareness given by political D) Social: The most fundamental Out of Control Spending may hurt or offer benefit to any community. through the agency of a sound, ordered elites. The transitory and trivial nature of goal of media is strengthening social respon- Telegram, as a popular social media, and well-judged feedback process. On top the information flow in social media has sibility in communities. No one however, A: OK, so now the last point on our agenda. Jill, let’s go over is not an exception. Although theoretical, of that, in traditional journalism, legiti- largely eliminated elites from the circle. in the social media respect legal, moral the profit and lossstatement . technologic and ideological foundations of macy and illegitimacy of a phenomenon Thus, role of elites in political movements and civil responsibility. In spite of the fact B: Great. Well, the main issue here, as you can see, is that our Telegram can be found in those of World is judged by public intellect rather than is occupied by others such as second-hand that social media such as telegram can be expenses are through the roof. Wide Web, it is favored with some charac- single individuals. celebrities. For instance, elite absenteeism a place for claiming social rights, absence A: Let’s see... These numbers are off the charts! What’s going teristics which bring to light its damaging B) Politics: political activism in has paved the way for a former IRIB trivial of legal, moral and judicial procedures and on here! side more than any other benefit. Here we the absence of elite leadership is anoth- buffoon to sit in the saddle of a riot. transparent policies, even for the agents B: Well, um, sir, the company expenditures on entertainment touch some of disadvantageous aspects of er harmful aspect of social media in the C) Psychology: Bringing about a of Telegram, has created a dog-eat-dog and travel are out of control. Look at these bills for example. telegram from different viewpoints: world of politics. Power of Telegram in cognitive miser in the mind of the audience environment in which rights are violated Just this month we’ve paid over twenty thousand dollars for A) Journalism: undoubtedly, social achieving consensus and creating mass through exaggerating some aspects of a and redlines are breached. hotel charges! media, including Telegram, have drastically identity is a fact to which no one can turn phenomenon while depriving audience from Due to aforesaid issues, adopting limiting A: OK, thank you. I’ll look into it. changed traditional practice of journalism, a blind eye. Different meaning-making gaining information about other aspects is a strategies toward Telegram is not a good B: The list goes on and on. Here, this is a bill for five thousand affected the logic behind it and altered the and innovatory approaches in providing widely used technique in social media. This solution to its false patriotism which abuses dollars for spa treatments! rules and conventions which have ordered information, which is more a character- deficient picture through well-processed freedom of information and leads astray A: Thank you; that will be all. I’ll take care of it. the field since the very beginning days of istic of the software rather than channel nuggets of information nips knowledge expectations and perceptions of people and B: Look at this one sir, eight thousand dollars were spent in the profession. Collecting and providing managers, has invoked a different way of and cognition in the bud. In other words, ill-uses their claim for transparency. one night. A: OK, I get it!! Thank you for your very thorough analysis! Key vocabulary go over: revise, check ENGLISH IN USE statement: a record showing amounts of money paid, received, owed etc. LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION through the roof: suddenly very high off the charts:very high expenditures: amount of money spent on something Plasma gasification plant بهرهبرداری از طرح تبدیل زبالههای شهری به انرژی out of control: not in control look into: investigate, try to get information about something operational by mid-March با پالسما تا پایان سال go on and on: continues TEHRAN — The first plasma gasification plant in Iran aiming to convert اولیــن طــرح تبدیــل زبالههــای شــهری بــه انــرژی بــا اســتفاده از فنــاوری پالســما در spa treatment: a non-medical procedure to help the health of the body, such as a massage waste materials to gas will come on stream by the end of the current ایــران تــا پایــان ســال بــه بهرهبــرداری میرســد. .(take care of: do something about Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2017 بــه گــزارش روز یکشــنبه ایســنا ایــن نیــروگاه بــا اســتفاده از ســه مشــعل پالســمایی بــا Supplementary vocabulary Utilizing three plasma torches the plant will be converting one ton ظرفیــت هــزار کیلوگــرم در روز قــادر بــه تبدیــل زبالــه هــای شــهری، بیمارســتانی، ... ,revenue: amount of money paid to a business of waste materials (household, hospital, etc.) to gas on a daily basis cash flow: the movement of money into and out of a business ISNA reported on Sunday. بــه گاز مــی باشــد. the bottom line: the net profit; the amount of money a business Researchers at the Institute of Petroleum Industry has succeeded in makes after expenses پــروژه ی پالســما بــرای امحــاء، بیخطرســازی و تبدیــل زبالــه بــه انــرژی بــه همــت finances: the amount of money you have and how well it is developing the plasma gasification plant which will be of great help پژوهشــگران پژوهشــگاه صنعــت نفــت اجــرا شــده اســت. .organized in waste disposal income: the amount of money a person or a company makes assets: things of value that are owned by a company (Source: irlanguage.com) PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM “-cline, -clinal” Fawn on/over Blind as a bat Without Meaning: slope Meaning: to praise someone and be friendly to them Explanation: someone whose vision is very poor, For example: This was an area of sloping fields and in an insincere way, because you want them to like you or who is unable to see anything, is (as) blind as a bat earth no the track mounted a gradual incline. or give you something For example: Without his glasses, the old man is birth! For example: I refused to fawn over her or flatter her. as blind as a bat. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 4, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Norway suspends arms exports Top German, Turkish diplomats to meet in to UAE over Yemen War Germany: Ankara 1 Yemeni forces shot and killed the infrastructure, including hospitals, schools soldiers in the mountainous Jebel al-Dukhan and factories, has been reduced to rubble The foreign ministers of Germany and Turkey will meet this area as well as al-Moannaq and al-Kars mil- due to the war. weekend as Ankara seeks to douse tensions with the EU that itary bases in the region, located 967 kilo- The Saudi regime-led war has also trig- blighted 2017, Turkish officials said Wednesday. meters southwest of the capital Riyadh, on gered a deadly cholera epidemic across Yemen. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel will host Turkish Tuesday evening, Arabic-language al-Masirah According to the World Health Organi- counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in his home town of Goslar in television network reported. zation’s latest count, the cholera outbreak Lower Saxony on Saturday, the officials said. Yemeni forces and their allies also has killed 2,167 people since the end of April The visit will represent the German leg of talks between the launched a salvo of artillery rounds at the and is suspected to have infected 841,906. two men who met in November in Cavusoglu’s home region of gatherings of Saudi regime soldiers in Ras On November 26, the United Nations Antalya in southern Turkey. al-Hobrah area, Mo’tan military base and children’s agency (UNICEF) said that more Cavusoglu said he would meet Gabriel on Jan. 6 at a briefing Ghavi village. than 11 million children in Yemen were in with Turkish reporters in Ankara quoted by state media. There were, however, no immediate re- acute need of aid, stressing that it was es- A foreign ministry official, contacted by AFP, confirmed the ports on possible casualties and the extent timated that every 10 minutes a child died meeting would be in Goslar. The German foreign ministry said of damage caused. of a preventable disease there. a meeting was planned there without giving a date. Earlier in the day, a civilian lost his life Additionally, the UN has described the Relations between Turkey and Germany hit a nadir last year as when the Saudi regime military aircraft carried current level of hunger in Yemen as “un- Berlin strongly criticized the crackdown after the failed coup that out an airstrike against a residential area in precedented,” emphasizing that 17 million left over 55,000 arrested and Ankara accused Berlin of meddling. the Baqim district of Yemen’s northwestern people are now food insecure in the country. Tensions with other EU members, including Austria and the province of Sa’ada. It added that 6.8 million, meaning almost Netherlands, meanwhile appeared to bring Turkey’s bid to join Seven other civilians were also killed Monabbih district of the same Yemeni since the onset of the House of Saud re- one in four people, do not have enough food the European Union to a shuddering halt. when Saudi warplanes struck a vehicle province. gime’s military campaign against Yemen and rely entirely on external assistance. But Ankara has issued a flurry of signals in recent days it as it travelling along a highway in the At least 13,600 people have been killed in 2015. Much of the Peninsula country’s (Source: agencies) wants warmer relations with the European Union and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is heading to France on Friday for talks with President Emmanuel Macron. ‘I too have a nuclear button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one’: Trump taunts Kim Jong-un The better tone has been helped by the shared opposition of both Turkey and key EU states, including France and Germany, Rep. Swalwell calls for help to stop Trump’s ‘lunacy’ on N. Korea to President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the By staff & agencies in defiance of international law. capital of Israel. The United States President Trump again raised the pros- Trump has emphasized a more militant line, arguing Berlin was particularly incensed by the holding of several pect of nuclear war with North Korea on Tuesday night, that his predecessors were too soft in responding to the German nationals in a crackdown after the coup bid, although boasting that he commands a “much bigger” and “more threat. He has ratcheted up American sanctions and lob- tensions eased slightly following several releases in recent months. powerful” arsenal of devastating weapons than the outlier bied the United Nations to increase punitive measures, as (Source: AFP) government in Asia. well. While at various points in the past he has suggested “North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the that he would be open to negotiations, he has more often ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times,’” Trump wrote on emphasized lately that he did not believe talks would lead Dreaded, sadistic ISIL Twitter. “Will someone from his depleted and food starved to a fruitful outcome. On more than one occasion when his regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, secretary of state, Rex W. Tillerson, publicly broached the executioner reportedly but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and possibility, Trump pulled him back, declaring, at one point, my Button works!” that talks would be a waste of time. captured in Iraq; could be Trump’s combative response to a statement made in By any measure, Trump is correct that the United States recent days by Kim raised the temperature in the brewing has a far more powerful nuclear arsenal than North Korea, executed himself confrontation between the United States and North Korea but even so, Pyongyang could wreak widespread devasta- A white-bearded Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) even as American allies in South Korea were moving to tion. Even a conventional war could result in hundreds of Takfiri terrorist who presided over the killings of dozens of gay open talks with Pyongyang. The contrast between Trump’s thousands of casualties on the Korean Peninsula, according Dem Sen.: Trump’s remark on nuclear but- men and others who ran afoul of the so-called “caliphate” was language and the peace overture by South Korea highlighted to national security analysts, which is one reason South ton ‘borders on presidential malpractice’ captured in the Iraqi city of Mosul last week, according to reports. the growing rift between two longtime allies. Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, is more eager for dialogue Elsewhere, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said on Tuesday Abu Omer was arrested after locals in Mosul tipped security The president’s saber-rattling tweet shifted the tenor than Trump is indicating he would be. that Trump’s claim that the U.S. nuclear launch button is forces off to his hideout in the city, the Iran-based AhlulBayt News of his response to the South Korean initiative just hours Many security experts have said there is no reasonable “much bigger” than North Korea’s “borders on presidential Agency ( ABNA) reported, citing Iraqi media outlets. after a milder initial statement. Trump, who has scorned military option for restraining North Korea that would malpractice.” Abu Omer was a prominent presence in several sick videos of the prospects of negotiating with North Korea, earlier in the not involve unacceptable loss of life, but Trump and his “Imagine being a service member or the family of a ser- ISIL executions, in which homosexuals were thrown off buildings day said the possible talks between the two governments national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, have vice member stationed in Korea and reading this,” Markey and others beheaded and stoned to death for offenses such as on the peninsula resulted from sanctions imposed by the argued otherwise. tweeted. “This borders on presidential malpractice.” blasphemy. United States and the international community. “Perhaps Whether intended or not, the diverging messages be- Kim orders biggest-ever ICBM to be In one video, apparently from March 2015, a man who appears that is good news, perhaps not - we will see!” he wrote on tween Trump and Moon could create a good-cop, bad-cop launched on N. Korea’s 70th anniversary to be Omer reads off a list of charges against three men before Tuesday morning. scenario in which the South Koreans use the specter of a Meantime, Kim Jong Un has ordered his rocket scientists they are publicly beheaded. Why Trump hardened his message later the same day militant United States as leverage to win concessions from to construct North Korea’s biggest ballistic missile ever, and Another photo appears to show Omer inspecting a pile of rocks was not immediately clear. But he has not hesitated to match North Korea. the despot reportedly plans to launch the record rocket on before a public stoning. Now, this most feared ISIL executioner North Korea’s incendiary language even while other Amer- Kim has sent conflicting messages all by himself. In his the regimes 70th anniversary in September. could be executed himself. ican presidents resisted such back-and-forth taunting out New Year’s Day speech that provoked Trump’s tweet, Kim The rocket would be outfitted with re-entry capability — According to a Human Rights Watch report released last of concern that it was unwise and unnecessarily rewarding both floated the idea of talks and boasted of his nuclear a feat the Hermit Kingdom’s last intercontinental ballistic month, approximately 20,000 people are being held across Iraq the hermit nation. capacity. “It’s not a mere threat but a reality that I have missile wasn’t able to achieve — according to a defector on suspicion of ties to the ISIL terrorist outfit. Last summer, Trump vowed to rain down “fire and fury” a nuclear button on the desk in my office,” he said. “All who talked to a Japanese paper. It is unclear how many Iraqis have been slaughtered by ISIL, on North Korea if it posed a threat to the United States. Last of the mainland United States is within the range of our The defector, who was not identified but was said to be which swept across the country in the summer of 2014 before fall, he went before the United Nations General Assembly nuclear strike.” knowledgeable in the Hermit Kingdom’s missile program, told gradually being pushed back by government forces. to warn that he would “totally destroy North Korea” if the Whether that was mere bluster or not was not clear. North Japanese publication Asahi Shimbun earlier this week Kim laid (Source: FOX News) United States were forced to defend itself or its allies. Korea has tested an ICBM with enough range to reach the out his plans during a meeting in Pyongyang on Dec. 11 and 12. Earlier on Tuesday, South Korea proposed holding East Coast of the United States, but it has not yet shown The rocket, called the “Unha-4,” will be an upgraded talks with North Korea next week in Panmunjom, a village that it has developed the capacity to deliver a nuclear war- version of the long-range ballistic missile Unha-3, which straddling the border between the two hostile countries. If head that could survive the rigors of re-entry through the was launched in 2012 and 2016 and put North Korea’s first History of the world at year 1 North Korea agrees, it would be the first official dialogue atmosphere or accurately hit targets at such a long range. satellite into orbit. between the Koreas in two years in what leaders in Seoul But Kim has made clear that he has made progress in recent A launch date for the new, huge rocket has been after Trump hope could dampen the talk of war that has consumed the months, raising fears in Asia and the U.S. set for Sept. 9, when North Korea celebrates its 70th 8 The first target of Trump›s nefarious economics has past few months. Rep. Swalwell calls for help to stop Trump’s anniversary since its founding by Kim Il Sung. North been American people themselves. His monumental tax scheme North Korea has made significant strides in the past year ‘lunacy’ on North Korea Korea has often carried out nuclear and missile tests that his fellow Republicans just passed will target the poorest in developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) Meantime, the U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell has urged on important dates. segments of the U.S. society to enrich the tiny upper echelon of that could eventually deliver nuclear warheads to targets House Republicans to support his effort to prevent Trump The body of the rocket has been completed, but it will the country. What sort of «nationalism» is that? He is a thief as distant as the United States. More than two decades of from starting a nuclear war with North Korea. take about six months for officials to prepare the launch, stealing from the poor enriching the rich even more. efforts by the United States and other major powers have “If you love our country, help me put this lunacy in check,” Asahi Shimbun reported. Trump a diabolical buffoon failed to thwart North Korea from building a nuclear arsenal Swalwell, a Democrat from California, said in a tweet. (Source: agencies) What Donald Trump has staged is first and foremost the moral and political crisis that «Western democracy», in general, and American democracy, in particular, face today. All the way from Trump: Hispanics will start ‘falling in love’ with me Plato and Aristotle to Thomas Jefferson and Alexis de Tocqueville, U.S. President Trump predicted that Hispanic istration that announced in September that “The best taco bowls are made in Trump In the aftermath of the election, FiveThir- the world has been force-fed, lectured at and politically held people will fall in love with Republicans, it would scrap DACA and give Congress until Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!” he proclaimed. tyEight, a website that analyzes opinion polls, hostage to overdoses of highfalutin treatises about «Western including himself. March to come up with replacement legisla- The Pew Research Center estimates reported that pollsters and advocacy organ- liberal democracy» - the crowning achievement of which is this Trump said in a tweet that this would tion that would give the 800,000 so-called that Trump won 28 percent of the Latino izations disagreed over whether those exit clinically diabolical buffoon. be the result of “DACA activists and His- Dreamers a pathway to legal status. Former vote, while Mitt Romney won 27 percent polls could be trusted. Trump is no isolationist or nationalist. He is a neo-globalist panics” bailing on the Democratic Party for President Barack Obama, Christian lead- four years earlier. Similarly, Edison Re- Harry Enten of FiveThirtyEight wrote, of fear and fanaticism, of thievery for the rich and destitution supposedly not doing anything substantive ers and others have staunchly defended the search estimated that Hispanic voters pre- “While Clinton may have done better than for the rest. regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood program. ferred Hillary Clinton, 65 percent to 29 the exit polls suggest, a detailed look at A year into the Trump presidency, the global perception of Arrivals program. According to one of Trump’s famous percent. Although Hispanic voters largely pre-election polls and actual election results common American decency has been seriously diminished, the DACA is the Obama-era program that tweets during the presidential campaign, opposed Trump’s immigration proposals from counties with large Latino populations fear of its vulgar and violent militarism increased, the brutish shielded from deportation many young the “love” goes both ways. Trump’s sur- — including his promise of a massive wall suggests that Trump probably did no worse impact of U.S. disregard for planetary environmental calamity immigrants, including some who entered prising Cinco de Mayo message in 2016 along the U.S.-Mexico border — they listed than Romney among Latinos, and probably intensified, nefarious U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia and Israel the U.S. illegally as minors. was a photo of himself preparing to eat a the economy as the most important issue did better.” given free hands to slaughter people in Yemen and Palestine Despite Trump’s tweet, it was his admin- taco bowl in his office. facing the nation, according to Pew. (Source: Yahoo News) with impunity, the poorest and most vulnerable segments of American society targeted for even more impoverishment, its richest pockets made even deeper and more obscenely rich. The world, including the majority of Americans, stand today Nikki Haley: Pakistan playing ‘double game’ for years on one side, and Donald Trump and his richest and most dan- Pakistan has been accused of playing a “double game” and On Monday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif gerous beneficiaries from Washington to Tel Aviv to Riyadh on harboring “terrorists” by Nikki Haley, the United States told the Pakistani TV network Geo: “We have already told the other. They are wreaking havoc across the globe and we are ambassador to the United Nations, as the war of words the U.S. that we will not do more, so Trump’s ‘no more’ does bracing for even worse to come. continues between the two countries over military aid. not hold any importance.” A shining truth emerges from this calamitous condition of Haley’s comments come a day after President Donald Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called a humanity at year 1 AT of our world history. The world is forever Trump threatened to cut aid to Pakistan for allegedly lying meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Tuesday freed from all its dangerous delusions: from the nativist Amer- to the U.S. and offering “little help” in hunting “terrorists” who expressed “deep disappointment” over Trump’s comments. ican democracy to European liberal globalism, from the corrupt in neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, re- Russian oligarchy to the globalized Chinese communism, from “There are clear reasons for this. Pakistan has played jected the allegations and said her country’s cooperation xenophobic Zionism to megalomaniac Islamism, from homicidal a double game for years,” Haley told reporters at the UN was not based on aid but national interests. Hindu fundamentalism to genocidal Buddhist nationalism. headquarters in New York. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders added that Free at last, as the moral voice of Martin Luther King Jr, “They work with us at times, and they also harbor the the U.S. would lay out specific actions against Pakistan in declared, thank God Almighty we are free at last from all the terrorists that attack our troops in Afghanistan,” Haley the next 24 to 48 hours. false god terms of our history - just a year into the presidency of told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. “the United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan have deteriorated our very own Roman Emperor Mr. Donald Trump, Real Estate “That game is not acceptable to this administration.” billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given since the Trump administration began taking a hard line Developer, Inc. We are freed from all delusional fantasies East Urging greater cooperation from Pakistan in the fight us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools”. on Afghanistan last year. On Thursday, Pakistan’s military and West and walk through this valley of despair with our eyes against “terrorism”, she said Trump “is willing to go to great Trump’s tweet appeared to have further increased ten- warned the U.S. against the possibility of taking unilateral and hearts wide open, our minds and intellect clear and caring lengths to stop all funding for Pakistan”. sions between countries and sparked a strong reaction from action against armed groups on its soil. - the modest prophets of our own uncharted destinies. On January 1, in his first tweet of the New Year, Trump said: Islamabad. (Source: Al Jazeera) (Source: Aljazeera) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS JANUARY 4, 2018 Victor Valdes retires from football and deletes IOC welcomes North Korean Olympic overture social media accounts to focus on family life The International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomed on Tuesday Former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes the possibility of North Korea competing at next month’s Pyeo- has retired from football and has deleted all ngchang Games in South Korea and said the invitation remained of his social media accounts. open. A spokesman said the IOC “welcomes the mutual intention” The decision came on New Year’s Day as of the two governments to start direct talks about North Korean the 35-year-old revealed he now wants to athletes participating in the Feb 9-25 Games. focus on his family following his decision “In this context, the IOC continues its discussions with the to hang up his gloves. NOC (national Olympic committee) of DPRK (North Korea),” he Valdes enjoyed a stellar career with Barce- added. “To allow for such a participation in respect of the Olympic lona and the Spain national team but has been Charter, the IOC is keeping its invitation for a delegation of the without a club since leaving Middlesbrough NOC of DPRK open and will take the final decision in due time.” in May last year. The Spaniard reportedly had North Korean leader Kim Jong Un referred to the Games in offers to continue his career, which featured a New Year’s Day speech in which he also spoke of “mass-pro- unsuccessful spells at Manchester United ducing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles for operational and Standard Liege. deployment”. “North Korea’s participation in the Winter Games Despite this, he took to social media one will be a good opportunity to showcase the national pride and we final time to say ‘thanks for everything’ before wish the Games will be a success,” he said. “Officials from the two deleting his Twitter and Instagram accounts. Koreas may urgently meet to discuss the possibility,” he added. And Valdes is a man of his word after South Korea has welcomed Kim’s offer but U.S.-based experts he announced in 2015 that he would delete saw Kim’s speech as a clear attempt to divide Seoul from its main his social media accounts once his playing ally, the United States. Washington has led an international days came to an end to focus on his family. campaign to pressure North Korea through sanctions to give up He told RAC1: ‘When the light goes out weapons programs aimed at developing nuclear missiles capable someday, then it will go out and I’ll be with of hitting the United States. my children, teaching them about life. The Pyeongchang Games will take place just 80 km (50 miles) ‘But I hope that when the light does go from the world’s most heavily-armed border, the demilitarized out, it will be hard to find me.’ zone between North and South Korea. It remains to be seen whether Valdes will (Source: Reuters) return to football in some capacity. He also helped the Catalan giants to their Championship two years later. success he had in Spain. Valdes’ most successful part of his career historic Treble in 2009, with Barcelona be- Valdes left the Nou Camp after persistent The Spaniard left the Red Devils two years came at Barcelona, where he won the Spanish coming the first Spanish team to do so. knee problems but left his mark as one of the later after having a difficult relationship with league title six times, the Champions League The 35-year-old was prolific when on in- club’s greatest goalkeepers. Louis van Gaal before ending his career with three times and the Copa del Rey twice in ternational duty after helping Spain win the He then completed his move to Manchester Middlesbrough. Barcelona edge Real Madrid his 12 years at the club. World Cup in 2010 and then the European United in 2014 but struggled to replicate the (Source: Daily Mail) on TV income

La Liga leaders Barcelona received a record 146.2 million euros John Hartson expects Ryan Giggs to be Liverpool’s Van Dijk primed for derby (£129.6 million) last season from television rights, figures from next Wales manager debut in cup La Liga show, earning seven million euros more than champions Real Madrid. The 20 clubs in Spain’s top flight took in 1.247 billion euros, rising from 1.237 billion from the previous year, with Barca earning an extra 6.2 million than the year before. The income is distributed according to results in the last five years, explaining why Barca, champions in 2013, 2015 and 2016, earned more than Real, who won the title last season for the first time since 2012. Real earned the second biggest amount, 140 million euros, Atletico Madrid picked up the third largest share, 99 million, while Athletic Bilbao took the fourth largest sum, 71 million. Leganes, who in 2016 were promoted to the top flight for the first time ever, earned the smallest amount of all the teams, pocketing 39.3 million. Barca are nine points clear of Atletico at the top of La Liga, which resumes on Saturday after taking a two-week winter break. Last season was the second campaign in which La Liga sold its television rights collectively following a change in the Spanish law in 2015. Under the previous system, based on club’s negotiating their deals individually, the league earned a total 851 million euros from television rights. La Liga, which controls the top two divisions in Spanish football, distributes 90 percent of income to the top flight, with 10 percent going to the second tier Segunda John Hartson believes Ryan Giggs will be fans would welcome Giggs’ appointment: Virgil van Dijk, the world’s most expensive only difference,” he said. Division. The league is currently negotiating its next television chosen as the next Wales manager. “If the fans are asked about Ryan Giggs I defender, could make his Liverpool debut With Manchester City so far ahead in deal, coming into effect from 2019-20, which the organization’s Hartson, another former Wales forward think they’ll be supportive, because he’s a against local rivals Everton at Anfield in the Premier League, the FA Cup, which president Javier Tebas says could be worth 2.3 billion. Craig Bellamy, plus Coleman’s assistant massive, massive name - a Welsh legend. Friday night’s opening FA Cup third-round Liverpool last won in 2006, may represent (Source: Sky Sports) Osian Roberts have all said they want to “But that sometimes plays a big role as clash. Klopp’s best chance of winning his first succeed Chris Coleman. well. Who do the fans want?” The center back is eligible to play after trophy at the club, although Everton always Hartson says he has spoken to Foot- Former Wales boss Mark Hughes and his registration was finalized following his represent a formidable barrier. Last month ball Association of Wales chief executive ex-Wales winger Mickey Thomas have both protracted 75 million pound move from they drew 1-1 at Anfield and have never lost Jonathan Ford about the role but does not said they think Giggs would be a good choice. Southampton. a cup tie against their neighbours there. Ferrari pay tribute as expect to get it. “If Ryan Giggs wants it The FAW hopes to have a successor to Manager Juergen Klopp has yet to say All four previous Anfield derbies in the Schumacher turns 49 then I pretty much think it’s his to take,” Coleman - who left in November 2017 to whether he intends to plunge the Dutchman FA Cup, stretching back 116 years, have Hartson told BBC Sport Wales. take charge of Championship side Sunder- straight into action, particularly in such a been drawn, most recently 1-1 in 2009 Hartson believes Giggs has already been land - in place in time for the draw for the high-profile game, but Van Dijk is likely when Everton won the replay. Italian Formula One team Ferrari paid tribute to Michael Schu- interviewed about succeeding Coleman. Nations League on 24 January. to feature at least on the bench. VAR TECHNOLOGY macher on Wednesday as the former seven-time world cham- Some Wales supporters are opposed to Hartson, 42, revealed he telephoned The shape of Klopp’s team is further Friday’s other tie pits 2016 champions pion turned 49 years. “Today Michael turns 49, our thoughts the 44-year-old Manchester United great Ford to formally declare his interest in complicated by British media reports Manchester United against Derby County, are always with him.” the Italian stable wrote on their Twitter getting the job, due to the lack of friendlies becoming Wales manager but is not ex- that Barcelona are about to table a bid who are second in the Championship, while account, Scuderia Ferrari. he played during his 64-cap Wales career. pecting talks to progress. for Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutin- neighbours City play Burnley on Saturday. The retired German racing ace, widely regarded as one of the “I think they’ve interviewed Ryan Giggs “We spoke about several things but ho. Meanwhile, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane To the dismay of purists, the draw has greatest Formula One drivers ever, suffered catastrophic brain and one or two others, and if they show a nowhere near in terms of anything posi- may not feature in Friday’s game after the been staggered over four days with Mon- injuries in a skiing accident in 2013 and has been receiving care big interest in taking the job then I think tive of me getting anywhere near the job,” German agreed to allow them to attend the day’s final game between Brighton & Hove at his home in Switzerland since. it will go to somebody else ahead of me,” Hartson admitted. African Footballer of the Year awards in Albion and Crystal Palace marking the first Schumacher won two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 Hartson said. “I’m not expecting an approach and I’m Ghana on Thursday. time video assistant referee (VAR) will be before five consecutive world drivers’ titles with Ferrari between “If Ryan wants it, he’s a big name, he’s not really expecting an interview. I don’t A private plane will fly them back with used in a major English game. 2000 and 2004. His records of seven titles, 91 career victories, someone who is out of work... someone’s think it will be coming anywhere near my Klopp seemingly relaxed about the unusual The technology will be restricted to three most fastest laps (77) and most races won in a single season (13), who’s said he wants to go into management way. “As much as the Wales job is a wonder- arrangements. “We have two of the three “game-changing” situations -- goals, penal- remain unchallenged. if the right job came along, and they don’t ful job for anybody, especially somebody best African players in our squad. We have ties and straight red cards -- at a time when (Source: Daily Star) come any bigger or better than the national who is proud to be Welsh and had played to show them respect. We are going to sleep referees have been criticized for getting job for Wales.” at that level, I’m a realist as well.” in a hotel the night before the match, they high-profile decisions wrong. Hartson believes the majority of Wales (Source: BBC) are going to sleep on a plane. That is the (Source: Guardian) Sergio Aguero: Harry Kane could succeed at Real Madrid Pep Guardiola: Premier League schedule is going to ‘kill’ players Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has renewed do not play at home at the same time, and take into account Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero says that Tottenham’s his criticism of the Premier League’s fixture schedule, police requests, local events, broadcasting selections and Harry Kane would have no problems fitting in at Real Madrid urging organizers to think about the risk players were several other factors. because of his “world-class quality.” facing with games held so closely together over the “Over recent years, FIFA and UEFA have taken more Kane’s 56 goals in 2017, more than either Cristiano Ronaldo festive period. dates from the football calendar, restricting the opportunities or Lionel Messi managed, has seen him linked with a move to “We are going to kill them,” Guardiola told reporters in which to schedule 38 Premier League match rounds. Madrid and a Marca poll of Blancos fans named him as their after his team’s 3-1 win over Watford on Tuesday as City “With the World Cup squad call-ups commencing in May preferred big name signing for next summer. extended their lead over closest rivals Manchester United 2018, these restrictions are tightened further this season Although Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has said to 15 points. with an early conclusion to domestic competition.” the 24-year-old is not on the market, both Marca and AS have “The bosses have to reflect. It’s not normal to play ’Utter craziness’ continued to claim he is a target for Madrid president Florentino 31st and two days later,” added Guardiola, referring to Sports strength coach Simon Brundish, who has worked Perez, although the assumed tough negotiating stance of Spurs City’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday and then with a number of Premier League clubs over a 21-year career, chairman Daniel Levy and the difficulties British players can have the Watford game. described the schedule as “utter craziness.” settling in Spain are both factors reportedly being considered. “I know the show must go on but that is not normal, they “These elite athletes need four days between games to Former Atletico Madrid striker Aguero, who came close to have to control it. They don’t protect the players, they are ‘fully’ recover,” Brunish told CNN Sport. joining Real back in 2011, told “El Larguero” that Kane’s exploits the people we come to watch -- not the managers or the “One is demanding injury, while one day between games in the Premier League showed he had the ability to fit in even press conferences. after three games in nine days is accepting it in return for at the Bernabeu. “Players of his quality should not have any “Here in England you don’t protect the players, you have money,” added Brundish, a reference to the billion-dollar problem at a team as big as Real Madrid,” Aguero said. “I cannot to look for the quality not the quantity.” in 11 days wasn’t healthy for the players. television deal the Premier League and its clubs signed know what he thinks, but he is an important No. 9 in the world, City defender Kyle Walker ended the match holding his “If you tell me that technically, physically it’s good for with broadcasters. and above all in the Premier League, so he shouldn’t have any right thigh and Guardiola said it wasn’t a coincidence so the players: no, it’s a disaster,” said Guardiola. “The injuries they cause now have repercussions for the problems. But it is not for me to give an opinion, it is up to him.” many players were picking up muscular injuries. Football calendar season and often careers of these footballers. Ask Mo Salah After his back-to-back hat tricks against Burnley and South- “The players need recovery. The schedule does not protect The Premier League has defended its schedule, saying of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alii or Mesut Ozil ampton over Christmas took him past Messi and Ronaldo for the player. I think the schedule will always happen because of the 2018 World Cup in Russia has made this season par- of Arsenal when the World Cup comes round in June.” goals scored that calendar year, Kane himself said he “obviously the tradition but think about the players -- they are artists.” ticularly difficult in arranging fixtures. Europe’s other top leagues enjoy a winter break. Germa- had a long way to go” to match the pair’s long-term consistency Four games over Christmas and the new year has long “The Premier League is a national competition and the ny’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1 returns to action on but said he would continue to “do everything I can to improve.” been a tradition in English football, but even before the scheduling of fixtures is complex,” said the Premier League January 12, while Spain’s La Liga will re-start on January 6. (Source: ESPN) Watford game Guardiola had said that amount of matches in a statement. “It includes having to ensure twinned clubs (Source: CNN) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 4, 2018 SPORTS 15 The U.S. weightlifting teams waiting for Iran beach soccer remain visa to participate in Iran’s Fajr Cup unchanged in world rankings Iran beach soccer national team ended the year 2017 in SPORTS The U.S. weightlifting men’s and top three. deskwomen’s teams are waiting for visas Team Melli still are the best Asian team in the rankings. to participate in the third edition of the Interna- Brazil remain top of the tional Fajr Cup. standings with 4410 points The competition has been scheduled to take place in followed by Portugal (3449) the city of Ahvaz in Iran’s south west from March 6 to 11. and Iran (3003). Despite Iran having been blacklisted by Trump, the Spain head into 2018 on U.S. is planning to send a women’s delegation to Iran, a high, having been named as well as a men’s team to compete in the Fajr Cup, Phil Movers of the Month for De- Andrews, chief executive officer of USA Weightlifting, said. cember following their success At the World Weightlifting Championships held in at the Copa Lagos in Nigeria Anaheim, California in early December, head of Iran last month. Weightlifting Federation Ali Moradi invited the U.S. to Joaquin Alonso’s men begin compete in the Fajr Cup, a men’s invitation competition, the new year in 13th position and has also asked them to send a women’s team. - moving up three places as The Americans have accepted on both counts, and a result of their triumph in will send female lifters, coaches and technical officials. Lagos where they overcame “At this point, subject to visas, we plan to attend the Morocco, Nigeria and Lebanon to claim the title. Fajr Cup with a small men’s and women’s delegation,” (Source: Beachsoccer.com) Andrews told in an interview with Tehran Times. “The Women’s delegation will work in a closed female environment with the Iran women to promote future participation and strengthening of the Iran Kish Island to host FIVB women’s team,” he added. “We will comply with Iranian cultural issues, Beach Volleyball World Tour and will help with training of female coaches and technical officials. TASNIM — A total of 21 teams have announced their readi- “There may be a friendly women’s international ness to participate at the 2018 FIVB Beach Volleyball World between Iran and the United States,” Andrew stated. Tour on Iran’s Kish Island. There will be no competition, only a camp at this The 3-star competition is scheduled to take place on Kish stage. It is about education at this stage, Andrews Island from Feb. 20 to 24. confirmed. Miguel Quintana from Spain will be the event’s supervisor and Switzerland Heinz Tschumi is Referee Manager The 2018 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour is the global elite professional beach volleyball circuit organized by the Iranian football legend Ali Parvin hospitalized Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) for the 2018 beach volleyball season. SPORTS TEHRAN — Former Iran national foot- team for eighteen years, managed the club for seventeen Starting in September 2017 after the end of the year season, desk ball team and Persepolis midfielder Ali years in three occasion and also the club’s president. the 2018 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Calendar comprises Parvin has been hospitalized in Tehran’s Kasra Hospital He was selected as one of the seventeen Asian three FIVB World Tour 5-star tournaments, eleven 4-star, five on Monday. football elites by AFC and received a statue from this 3-star, five 2-star, seventeen 1-star events and the World Tour Parvin was hospitalized in the hospital after he was confederation. Finals, all organized by the FIVB. feeling dizzy. He was named as one of the members of Persepolis Hall He is diagnosed with high blood pressure, the doctors said. of Fame and the club thanked him for his great performance Ali Parvin, nicknamed “Sultan”, is regarded as one of the during his senior career at Persepolis. most prominent Iranian footballers. During his career, he The club gave him a statue of his face and named him as Igor Kolakovic to return to has been associated mainly with Persepolis, played for the one of the twelve great players of Persepolis in the 1970s. Iran on Jan. 14

Mesut Ozil believes he has become World cycling champion Buchanan IRNA — Iran national volleyball team head coach Igor Kolakovic will return to Tehran on Jan. 14. a ‘bigger player’ at Arsenal expected to make full recovery after crash The Montenegrin coach to meet Iran Volleyball Federa- tion newly-elected president Ahmad Ziaei and will discuss about the team’s programs. 2018 will be a busy year for Iran volleyball since Team Melli should participate at the Asian Games as well as the Volleyball Nations League in Argentina in May. Iran will have to take part at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, which will be co-hosted by Italy and Bulgaria from Sept. 9 to 30. The Iranian teams will also take part at the Asian Volley- ball Confederation, Asian Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup and Asian Men’s U-20 Volleyball Championship.

David Silva explains Manchester City absence

David Silva says his recent absences from Manchester City’s side are because of the premature birth of his son. The City midfielder missed the victory over Newcastle and draw at Crystal Palace, which saw the club’s record-breaking Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil believes children from the Young Gunners fan Former Canberra BMX Club board mem- ple know she’s going to come, it brings 18-match winning streak come to an end. the club has made him a “bigger” club, Ozil was asked why he decided ber and longtime cyclist Matt Elliston a particularly big turn out. Pep Guardiola had explained Silva had not been player since joining from Real Madrid to join Arsenal, and he replied: “Be- said the community wished a speedy “Although ... she doesn’t seem to get part of his selection because of personal reasons prior five years ago. cause of the history and the amazing recovery to someone they considered much of a ride in because the others are to the player’s return in the 3-1 win over Watford on The 29-year-old - whose contract players. I’m here to learn, to grow up “the pinnacle of the [BMX] sport”. grabbing her and talking to her around Tuesday. expires in the summer - has recently and to show my talent for this club. “I think everyone is shocked and upset the track.” Silva has now released information about his time away been linked with Manchester Unit- “This club has made me bigger. but we also know Caroline Buchanan to The 27-year-old cycling star had a publicly, while also thanking Guardiola, his team-mates ed and Barcelona, although Arsene I’m so proud to play for a big club be quite a fighter, so I personally imagine successful 2017, having taken out sec- and those at Manchester City for their understanding of Wenger insists no approach has been like Arsenal.” that she will bounce back very quickly ond place at the BMX Championships his situation. made from either club. While Sanchez came close to mov- and probably with more resolve than in the USA in late July, just weeks before “I want to share with you the birth of my son Mateo, Like his team-mate Alexis Sanchez, ing to Manchester City in the last she had before,” he said. claiming a world title in the mountain who was born extremely preterm and is fighting day by day Ozil has yet to agree fresh terms with transfer window, Wenger is confident Buchanan is a member of the Tug- bike four cross in Trentino, Italy. with the help of the medical team,” Silva posted on Twitter. the club and Wenger remains de- Ozil is where he wants to be. geranong BMX Club and Mr Elliston is The Italy win marked her eighth world Manchester City host Burnley in the FA Cup on Saturday termined that both will not be sold I believe he wants to stay, he is a friend of the family. championship trophy. before the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against in January - even though the pair not to be convinced [to sign a new He said he and others could not wait Adding to her achievements of 2017, Sky Bet Championship side Bristol City on Tuesday, live could then walk away for free in the contract],” said Wenger. to see her back on the track — despite Cycling Australia awarded Buchanan the on Sky Sports Football. summer. “You want nobody to leave and you the fact she is rarely in her hometown. Elite BMX female cyclist of the year and (Source: Sky Sports) Both are likely to be involved see where we stand on that. But at “She’s an icon for us — and she’s she was named the Canberra female ath- when Arsenal and Chelsea meet at the moment, it’s very difficult. very much worthy of that title because lete of the year at the ACT’s sports awards. the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, “Until the end of the season we of the way she conducts herself and She had returned to Canberra shortly live on Sky Sports Premier League. know what it is, but after that, I can- remains very approachable when she after her world championship for a break Villarreal resigned to losing Speaking at a mock press con- not tell you.” is around,” he said. from the track. ference set up by Sky Sports with (Source: Sky Sports) “Certainly on any occasion where peo- (Source:abc.net) leading striker Bakambu to China

Villarreal’s top scorer Cedric Bakambu is on the verge of Three foreign countries to participate at Persian Beach Soccer Cup leaving the club to move to Chinese Super League side Three foreign countries are going to take part in the sec- soccer team – nicknamed Gli Azzurri (The Blues) – 4-3 Beijing Guoan, the Liga side’s coach Javi Calleja said on ond edition of the Persian Beach Soccer Cup, which is in the final showdown at Bushehr Tourism Village on Wednesday. scheduled to be held later this month in the southern February 16, 2017. The Congolese striker has scored 48 goals in all Iranian port city of Bushehr. Forward Mohammad Ahmadzadeh scored a brace while competitions for Villarreal since joining from Turkish During a meeting between Secretary General of Football Mohammad Ali Mokhtari and Mostafa Kiani netted a goal outfit Bursaspor in 2015 for 7.5 million euros (£6.64 Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) Moham- each for Iran’s Team Melli Football Saheli. million). mad Reza Saket, Head of the Beach Soccer Department at Francesco Corosiniti, Paolo Palmacci and Emanuele He has netted nine times in La Liga this season, mak- the FFIRI Paria Shahriari, Head of the Referees Committee Zurlo were on target for the Italian team as well. ing him the joint-fifth top scorer in Spain’s top flight. at the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran The Persian Beach Soccer Cup kicked off in Bushehr, Reports in the Spanish media put his release clause at Fereydoun Esfahanian, Head of the Marketing Committee southern Iran, on February 14 and finished on Feb- 40 million euros. at the FFIRI Hedayat Mombini, Head of Bushehr Football ruary 16, 2017. “Bakambu’s transfer is being finalised and it could be Association Mohammad Najafi and Chairman of Pars The international sports event brought together na- completed in a matter of hours,” Calleja told a news confer- Jonoubi Jam Football Club Bahram Rezaeian on Tuesday, tional beach soccer teams from the Islamic Republic of ence ahead of his side’s King’s Cup game against Leganes. the officials discussed accommodation of participating of Iran will vie for top honors during the upcoming Iran, Italy, Poland and Ukraine. “It is in the interest of all parties, there is a buy-out teams, invitation of referees and supervisors, renovation competition. Amirhossein Akbari from Iran was named as the Most clause and it looks like they are going to pay it.” of sports facilities as well as media coverage. The Iran men’s national beach soccer team put a thrilling Valuable Player of the three-day sports event. Villarreal are sixth in the Liga standings on 27 points, 18 The second edition of the Persian Beach Soccer end to its campaign at the Persian Beach Soccer Cup in Italy’s Gabriele Gori became the meet’s top-scorer behind runaway leaders Barcelona, and have been drawn Cup will kick off on January 27, and will run through Bushehr, clinching the international tournament’s title with five goals, and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Hladchenko against Olympique Lyonnais in the last-32 of the Europa January 29, 2018. with an unblemished record. was selected as the best goalkeeper. League. Azerbaijan, Spain, Ukraine and the Islamic Republic The Iranian squad defeated the national Italian beach (Source: Press TV) (Source: Mirror) Prayer Times Noon:12:09 Evening: 17:23 Dawn: 5:45 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:15 (tomorrow) JANUARY 4, 2018 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi 3rd Versus Visual Arts Exhibition Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 to open in Tehran on Friday Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 ARTTEHRAN – The 3rd edi- Webmaster: [email protected] desktion of the Versus Visual Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 Arts Exhibition, an annual showcase that No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran displays works by artists between 18 and P.o. Box: 14155-4843 35, will open Friday at the Iranian Artists Zip Code: 1599814713 Forum in Tehran. This edition of the exhibition has been dedicated to the medium of painting, the organizers announced on Wednesday. Over 100 works will be put on display at the exhibit, which was established by a number of artists to recognize promising young Iranian artists. The paintings have been selected from among over 4000 submissions sent by over 1100 artists to the exhibition. All the money that will be raised by the exhibition is allocated to be expend- Zahra Abdi’s “Day of Snail” ed in support of promising young Iranian published in Italy painters. A committee composed of Shohreh Meh- CULTURE TEHRAN – Iranian author Zahra Abdi’s ran, Neda Razavipur, Morteza Darebaghi, deskbook “Day of Snail” has recently been pub- Behrang Samadzadegan and Mohammad lished in Italian under the title Hamzeh have selected the works for the “A Teheran le Lumache Fanno exhibition. Rumore”. Winners will be announced by a jury of The book has been published Farah Osuli, Ali Golestaneh and Hengameh by Francesco Brioschi Editore, Moammeri during a closing ceremony on a publishing house in Milan. January 15. Anna Vanzan, a Ph.D. in Near The previous edition of the exhibit, Eastern studies from New York which was held at the Niavaran Cultural University, has translated the Center during January 2016, showcased book into Italian. works by young sculptors. The book narrates the fates of three different women; the mother, sister and fiancée of French experts Tartar, Cormann Musicians to hold workshops The front cover of “A Teheran Khosro, a man who has been invited to Fajr theater festival at Fajr festival in Tehran le Lumache Fanno Rumore” by missing since the 1980-1988 Zahra Abdi. Iran-Iraq war.

New York Ballet leader retires after claims of physical abuse

NEW YORK (Reuters) — Longtime New York City Ballet chief Peter Martins said on Monday he was retiring from the prestigious dance company and from the American School of Ballet, where he is chairman of faculty, after allegations of sexual harassment and verbal and physical abuse of dancers. The allegations are This combination photo shows Luc Tartar (L) and Enzo Cormann. A poster for 33rd Fajr Music Festival. being investigated by an ARTTEHRAN – French today and tomorrow. ARTTEHRAN – Experts The official music competitions will be independent lawyer retained desk desk by the two organizations experts Enzo Iranian playwrights Hamid Amjad from Germany, Austria, discussed by Klaus Neumann from Ger- last month, after the New Cormann and Luc Tartar have been and Mohammad-Amir Yarahmadi are Poland and Iran will hold a number of many, while musician Mohammad-Saeid York City Ballet said it had invited to attend panel discussions in also scheduled to attend the discussions, workshops arranged on the sidelines of the Sharifian from Iran will talk about aesthetics received an anonymous Tehran. which are open to theater experts, 33rd Fajr Music Festival, the organizers in classical music on January 12. letter making “general, The discussions are a prelude to thespians and students. announced on Wednesday. On January 18, Ardavan Kamkar will nonspecific allegations of the 36th Fajr International Theater The discussions have also been The workshops will take place at the hold a workshop on santur. sexual harassment” against Festival, which will held in Tehran during organized to select the winners of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) The next day, setar virtuoso Hamid Martins. February, the organizers announced Dramatic Literature Awards at the Fajr Cultural Institute (ECI) in Tehran on dif- Motebassem will hold a workshop on the In a letter to the boards on Tuesday. festival. The winners will be announced ferent days during the festival running process of hearing, while Iranian musician of both institutions dated The discussions, which are about the during a ceremony on Saturday. from January 10 to 20. Idin Samimi Mofakham and his Polish Monday, provided to position of texts in modern theater, will The 36th Fajr International Theater Austrian pianist Michael Kahr will wife composer Martyna Kosecka will hold Reuters by the New York be organized at the Nazerzadeh Kermani Festival will take place at several theaters attend the workshop on structure and a workshop on electro-acoustic music the City Ballet, Martins said: “I Hall of the Iranshahr Theater Complex in Tehran from February 18 to 29. perspective of jazz on January 11. same day. Ballet chief Peter Martins in an have denied, and continue undated photo to deny that I engaged in any such misconduct.” He described the allegations as Tehran Intl. FICTS Festival unveils doc lineup “largely anonymous and decades-old.” ARTTEHRAN – The 11th “The Philosophy of Football” by Ali Yekta, Martins, 71, could not be reached for comment on desk Monday. Reuters was unable to independently confirm edition of the Tehran “The Blue Bird” by Kaveh Bahrami, “Key” any of the allegations. International FICTS Festival, an event by Mohsen Khanjahani and “My Sister Mo- He is the latest of dozens of high-profile men in media, for sports films, announced the lineup for hadeseh” by Amirmasud Hosseini, all from entertainment and politics that have retired, resigned or the documentary section on Wednesday. Iran, will be screened at the festival. been fired in the past few months following accusations Ten full-length documentary films have The festival is organized by the Feder- of sexual harassment or assault. been selected to go on screen at the event. ation Internationale Cinema Television “To bring an end to this disruption which has enveloped Among the films are “Sachin: A Billion Sportifs (FICTS) and is a part of the World the Ballet and the School, I have decided that it is time Dreams” by James Erskine from the UK, FICTS Challenge that runs in 16 countries for me to retire,” the Danish-born ballet dancer and “17” by Widad Shafakoj from Jordan, “The around the world. choreographer wrote in the letter. Red Green” by Ersin Kana, “Variations The Iranian edition of the festival will Charles Scharf, chairman of the New York City Ballet, of Attack from the Third Zone” by Sedat “Super Marathon” by Saeid Keshavarz, “Mr. mentary films, including “Amer: An Ara- be held from January 15 to 25 in collab- credited Martins with a strong performance during his Sahin and “Baglar” by Melis Birder and Special” by Mehdi Bargenil and “Farshad, bian Legend” by Jassim Al-Rumaihi from oration with the National Olympic and tenure of more than 30 years as its ballet master-in-chief. Berke Bas, all from Turkey. the Top Scorer” by Jafar Sadeqi are also Qatar, “Imara” by Samuel Wanjohi from Paralympic Committee, the Ministry of “At the same time, the board takes seriously the Iranian films “Advantage” by Mohammad on the lineup. Kenya and “One Goal” by Yasmin Kidwai Sports and Youth, IRIB and the Tehran allegations that have been made against him and we Kart, “Zero to Platform” by Sahar Mosayyebi, A lineup of mid-length and short docu- from India, will also compete in the event. Municipality. expect the independent investigation of those allegations to be completed soon,” Scharf said in a statement. Martins said he chose to take a leave of absence from Peggy Cummins, star of noir classic Gun Crazy, dead at 92 both institutions since the investigation began. “I cooperated fully in the investigation and understand NEW YORK (AP) — Peggy Cummins, by John Dall. Tare is an ex-reform school and remained with him until his death in it will be completed shortly,” he said. “I believe its findings a Welsh-born stage and film actress who student who wants to go straight, but Starr 2000. They had two children. would have vindicated me.” worked just a few years in Hollywood but shames (and seduces) him into a life of crime, Born Augusta Margaret Diane Fuller Scharf said a search for a new ballet master-in-chief left behind an indelible performance as the telling him: “I want things, a lot of things, in Wales and raised in Dublin, she was the will begin soon. lethal, beret-wearing robber in the noir classic big things.” His reluctance to fire a gun is daughter of actress Margaret Cummins. By “Gun Crazy,” has died at age 92. more than compensated by her willingness age 12, Peggy Cummins had starred in a stage Cummins, who retired from acting in the to kill anyone. production of “Alice in Wonderland” and by 15 early 1960s, died Friday in London at age The film’s energy and documentary style had appeared in her first film, “Dr. O’Dowd.” LA prosecutors weighing 92. Her friend Dee Kirkwood said she died eventually made it a cult favorite, with admir- The most notable of her later movies was the charges against James of a stroke. ers including the French New Wave directors horror favorite “Night of the Demon” (also A child star in England, Cummins was not Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. In known as “Curse of the Demon”), directed Toback yet 20 when brought to the United States in the mid-1960s, when writers David Newman by Jacques Tourneur and featuring Cum- 1945 by studio boss Darryl F. Zanuck to play and Robert Benton were trying to sell a syn- mins as the niece of a psychologist whose LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors in Los Angeles are the title role in an adaptation of one of the opsis for what became “Bonnie and Clyde,” investigation of a satanic cult leads to fatal weighing criminal charges in five cases against writer and decade’s raciest novels, “Forever Amber.” Truffaut arranged a screening of “Gun Crazy” consequences. Her final film, “In the Dog- director James Toback. The petite blonde was passed over in favor of and suggested it as inspiration. In 1998, the house,” came out in 1962. Los Angeles County district attorney’s office spokesman Linda Darnell, allegedly because she was too Library of Congress selected “Gun Crazy” for In recent years, Cummins appeared at Greg Risling says Tuesday that prosecutors are reviewing two young, but Cummins was most certainly of preservation for being “culturally, historically, numerous retrospectives for “Gun Crazy,” cases from the Los Angeles Police Department and three sub- age for “Gun Crazy,” which came out in 1950. or aesthetically significant.” calling it her favorite production, even mitted by Beverly Hills police. Initially dismissed by The New York Times Cummins made just a handful of American though she insisted she was nothing like Toback, who received an Oscar nomination for writing as “pretty cheap stuff,” the low-budget “Gun movies, including “Escape” and “The Late Annie. Cummins saw herself as a country “Bugsy,” has been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens Crazy” was directed by Joseph H. Lewis and George Apley,” before returning to England girl, indifferent to possessions and happy In this Dec. 26, 1945, file photo, actress of women. Many of the women said Toback had promised secretly co-written by the blacklisted Dalton in 1950. She did briefly date then-aspiring to raise a family. But she did appreciate the Peggy Cummins, 20, smiles in Superior them stardom. Trumbo, who devised a tale violence and politician John F. Kennedy and was asked chance to misbehave on the screen. Court, in Los Angeles, after her contract Toback has vehemently denied the allegations. love destroyed by greed. out by Howard Hughes, only to have the “The tendency was then, that if you’re with Twentieth Century-Fox Studio had The cases are being reviewed by a task force District Attorney Cummins played Annie Laurie Starr, a wealthy aviator crash his plane and cancel short and blonde and reasonably pretty, you been approved. (AP Photo/File) Jackie Lacey established to handle any criminal complaints sharpshooter in a traveling carnival who hooks their dinner plans. Back in England, she always played rather pretty parts,” she said you the truth, I always wanted to play all the arising from the Hollywood scandal. up with a local marksman, Bart Tare, played married William Herbert Derek Dunnett at a 2012 screening in Hollywood. “To tell Bette Davis parts.”